#THESE TWO ESP TOP PAIR

[headdaze]

‼️ DISCLAIMER: all of the following is said positively and affectionately. none of my surprise is negative. ‼️

DUDE IM LOOKINH AT THE THE DEMON SLAYER TOP RELATIONSHIP WORK NUMBERS AND IM LIKE, BEFUDDLED: (I literally audibly went "woah!! what the HECK!??? woah!!!" so many times looking at the top ranks of ship works)

I WAS NOT EXPECTING SANEMI/GIYU TO BE THE TOP (I thought it would be tanjiro/zenitsu since they're like mcs and therefore get a lot of screen time)

I WAS NOT EXPECTING IGURO/MITSURI TO BE THE SECOND (because they're like canon and ao3 likes fanon usually in my experience)

I WAS NOT EXPECTING SHINOBU/GIYU TO BE FOURTH (I mostly never saw the chemistry but then again it's been like years since I really revisited demon slayer so-)

I WAS NOT EXPECTING AKAZA/KYOJURO TO BE FIFTH (I did not get this ship until literally a day ago and assumed it was a rarepair that was glorious but never would see the light of day)

I WAS NOT EXPECTING KYOJURO/READER TO BE SIXTH (y'all are thirstier than I thought /pos /aff)

I WAS NOT EXPECTING TANJIRO/GIYU TO NOT BE IN THE TOP RANKS AT ALL (this is mostly because they were my first ship when I firsted started getting into demon slayer and did not know of the vast world of potential for shipping)

I WAS (kind of) NOT EXPECTING TANJIRO/KANAO TO NOT BE IN THE TOP RANKS AT ALL (it was 50/50 bc they're very cute but they're also canon and again, fanon > canon is usually the way the ranks work in ao3)

y'all have surprised me!! good job!!! I thought I had developed a sense for what people usually ship as a long-time shipper and ao3 reader but I suppose today I was proven that is not necessarily true LOLLL

[todayisafridaynight]

Religiously i think about one of my twitter mutuals pointing out how aoki's design is subtly asymmetrical while ichiban is more symmetrical

when i think of it, masato's design is fairly symmetrical as well isnt it.....

[kitten4sannie]

ᴋɪꜱꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟ

ᴘᴇʀᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴏɴ/ᴘʀᴀɪꜱᴇ ➠ ʏᴜɴɢɪ

pairing: bf! mingi x gf! reader x roommate! yunho

genre: smut

summary: there’s something irresistible about your boyfriend’s roommate.

w.c: 3k

warnings: established poly relationship, switch! mingi + reader, dom! yunho, lots of perverted activities going on (panty sniffing for one…), voyeurism/exhibitionism, mxm, mostly pet names + praise <33, glasses kink idk i really like glasses if you couldn’t tell,, a tiny amount of false praise/name calling, kissing (including a three way kiss 🫣), manhandling, instruction giving, masturbation, oral (receiving), cum eating/swapping, cockwarming, dp in one hole, brief tit play, bulge kink, breeding kink, squirting, creampies

a/n: DON’T YOU LOOK AT ME 🫵🏼 i had to write this okayyy it was the only way to quell the brainworms uwu esp after that dance challenge yuyu posted ohmygodohmfhwwh and migiii GRRRRRRRR BARK anyways, i’ll return to my enclosure now 😔 if you enjoyed plz lemme know~~

song rec: kiss & tell by ethan low + gen neo

ᴘʀᴇᴠ | ꜰꜰꜰ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ | ɴᴇxᴛ

It only took a week of dating your boyfriend to know that he had a special relationship with his roommate. The both of them could deny it all they wanted, but you weren’t blind. You didn’t even mind it, either — in fact, it intrigued you. The more the merrier, after all. Now that you had just moved in with them, you expected to see it first hand, but you would come to realize that there was a lot more to the story — and you were a major part of it. 

“All we did was jerk off together, Y/N, it was one time, maybe two…” Mingi explained to you over the sound of running water, as if that even helped his case, handing you the plastic plate he had just washed. 

“Riiight, and I only scissored my bestie once or twice, right after the group orgy,” you replied sarcastically, wiping the dish with a rag and putting it back into your shared cabinet. 

Mingi almost dropped your favorite cat mug into the sink. “Y-you didn’t tell me you were into group sex.” 

You quickly took the mug from his grasp, holding it to your chest. “I was just joking, Min, so that you could see how silly you sound.” You reached up to caress his cheek with your cold hand, making him shiver. “Who cares if you’re attracted to your roommate. You know I don’t mind.” 

Mingi’s eyebrows screwed upwards, looking down at you with wide eyes. “B-but, he’s a dude.” 

“And?” 

He bit into his plump lip. “He’s got a dick.” 

You nodded your head. “Even better.” 

Mingi turned off the sink. “He’s my best friend, Y/N…” 

“I don’t see why that’s a problem, Min. You can’t control who you like.” 

“I-i don’t like him!” your boyfriend protested weakly, his rosy cheeks betraying him. 

You sighed, accepting defeat for now. “Okay, baby, I hear you.” 

Mingi suddenly cornered you against the sink, his hands on each side of the counter. He towered over you. “Why are you so interested in Yunho, huh? Do you want him?”

Now that the tables had turned, it was your turn to blush. “Wh-what?” 

Mingi slowly pressed himself into you, his body warm against yours. He was hard. You could feel it. “You heard me.” He leaned down to whisper, “You want to fuck my roommate, don’t you, baby?” 

Just then, the front door opened, a set of heavy footsteps making their way through the corridor until the very roommate you were speaking of appeared in the kitchen. “It’s raining cats and dogs out there,” Yunho chuckled softly, pulling his heavy black coat off, along with his foggy glasses, before shaking his head like a dog, his dirty blond bangs sticking to his forehead. 

Mingi had positioned you in front of him to conceal his boner, trying his best to look casual with his arms wrapped around you, his chin resting on the top of your head. “I told you to bring an umbrella, dumbass.” 

Yunho dropped his stuff down onto the kitchen counter, tugging at the thin white turtleneck he was wearing, the soaked material rolling up his waist. It had been soaked through, leaving little to the imagination. The both of you gulped audibly from where you stood. “You’re right, like always, Min.” Humming, Yunho used the loose material of his sweatpants to wipe his glasses clean, putting them back on, his gaze softening at the sight of his two favorite people. “Silly me.” 

“You’re going to catch a cold like that,” you whined, trying not to focus on the way his top clung to the ridges of his abs, or how his heavy sweatpants began to fall slightly from his hips. “You should take a shower, Yunho.”  

You weren’t the only one sizing him up, though Mingi wasn’t quite as capable of being subtle, instead biting straight into his lip, his deep-set eyes scanning lower until he could see the prominent outline of the very cock he was just talking about a few minutes ago. “Yeah, Yun. You’re soaked…” 

Yunho’s eyes formed half moons. His roommate and girlfriend were just too cute. He wanted nothing more than to fuck the living daylights out of the both of you, preferably in front of the other. Yunho couldn’t even keep track of the amount of times he’s jerked off to the thought of what you’d both act like when he was turning one of you out. He wondered which one of you would cry from being fucked full of cum, who could throat his cock the best, whose hole was the tightest, the list went on. These days, he’s even gone as far as to steal your panties, or Mingi’s boxers out of the laundry basket, just to wrap them around his dick and jerk himself off inside your shared room when the both of you were at work. And, as soon as he brought the soiled undergarments to his nose and inhaled your pretty scent, he blew his load all over your bed, like clockwork. Then, he almost always slipped in the hallway on the way to throw your blankets into the wash. It was getting bad.

He observed the splotches of water that had soaked into your own top and Mingi’s shirt alike, his lips curling up into a small smirk. “Looks like the both of you are wet too. Maybe we could all use a shower.” 

“M-maybe,” you choked out, worried your cover was blown by how flustered you looked. 

“You can go first though, bro,” Mingi finished for you, just about finishing in his pants from the thought of showering alongside Yunho, with you in between them. 

Yunho simply ran his long fingers through his wet hair, letting out a small sigh. “Your loss.” And with that, he made his way down the dark hallway to the bathroom. 

You didn’t even have to say anything for Mingi to know where your head was at, not when his other one poked into your abdomen when you turned around to face him. “Min…” you whispered, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“Bed, yeah,” Mingi breathed out, lifting you up from the floor and carrying you down the same hallway to your bedroom, the one that just so happened to share a wall with the bathroom. 

-

Beads of water slipped past the edge of Yunho’s tensing jaw, dripping past his contracting abdomen, and collecting inside the palm of his hand, aiding him in the pursuit of getting off, jerking himself off to the sound of Mingi piping you down. He could always tell when his best friend was about to cum; Mingi’s breath would get caught inside his dry throat and his words would start to come out jumbled. You were similar in that aspect, growing breathless, except you would always voice your desperation, that is, until all you could do was whine just before your insides were painted white. Knowing you were coming undone together in such proximity to Yunho made him so dizzy, he had to squeeze around the base of his cock to keep himself from cumming too soon. However, it was far too late, already letting out a sudden groan, leaving a few hefty splatters of cum on himself and the shower wall. Seeing white dots around his vision when he blinked, Yunho fought to catch his breath, pressing his cheek to the cool shower wall.

“Haven’t had enough, baby? Bet you need Yunho inside you next. Isn’t that right?” he heard Mingi ask you, finding it hard to swallow. Was he hearing right? 

“Yeah, I need him, Min, please–” you whined from underneath him, your thighs starting to tremble from being so close. 

“Ask him, princess,” Mingi cooed inside your ear, too drunk on lust to truly consider how his actions could backfire, bringing one sweat-covered arm to knock his fist into the wall, his hips smacking relentlessly into yours. “He’s right there.” 

Yunho jumped at the sensation of Mingi knocking through the wall, reaching over his body to turn the shower water off, his heart thumping loudly inside his chest. Finally, it was his time.

“Y-Yun, please, come here..!” Yunho heard your muffled plea, and that was all it took for him to burst through your door, a small, useless towel clinging desperately to his hips, gazing at the both of you with hunger in his hazy eyes.

“Y-you actually came.” Mingi swallowed hard, his thrusts growing sloppy, about to climb off of you, but staying while when Yunho slowly shook his head in disapproval. 

“I did. Now, you’re going to cum for me,” Yunho told him in a low voice, slowly climbing onto the bed, reaching down to run his fingers along his arm, leaving light, feathered touches over your collarbone next, sending a shiver through the both of you. He licked at his lips. “You’ll let me see, won’t you?” 

Neither you nor your boyfriend needed to have a discussion about the budding development of your relationship with Yunho. It just felt right. You immediately hooked your thighs around his waist, Mingi responding by pounding eagerly into your cunt until the both of you began to cry out. 

Yunho hovered behind Mingi, his wandering fingers closing around his friend’s waist, controlling the rate of Mingi’s strokes until he began to shudder, Yunho’s leaking cock rubbing along the other’s heated skin. He chuckled softly at the sound of Mingi’s whimpers, holding him still. “You’re cumming, aren’t you, Min? Inside your pretty girlfriend?” 

A bit of drool leaking from his lips, Mingi nodded weakly, as though his head was too heavy to lift, letting Yunho push his hips further and locking him in place, coating your pulsing walls with his seed. “F-fuck, I’m filling her up, Yun, it won’t stop…”

Humming in approval, Yunho gently coaxed Mingi to the side to access your body next, grabbing ahold of your nearest thigh and lifting it up and out of the way. “What do we have here? Mmm, no protection, huh?” He observed closely as his roommate’s load began to leak out past your fluttering hole. “I didn’t know your girlfriend liked it raw, Min.” He smiled perversely at Mingi, suddenly lifting your hips up in the air until you were folded in half like a paper doll, blowing a bit of air onto your cunt just to see you squirm. “Do you like having your little used pussy eaten too, baby?” 

“Y-yes, Yuyu,” you gasped, not used to having your ankles near your head like this, your filled hole on full display. It was so embarrassing, being looked at by your boyfriend and his roommate like they were going to eat you alive, but you couldn’t help but want more of their attention. You reached up, spreading yourself open, feeling Yunho’s heavy breaths against your skin. “Hurry, before it all spills out…” 

Groaning, Yunho dipped his tongue in between your slick lips, licking a long stripe up to your swollen clit with his tongue laid flat, languidly gathering up your combined arousal, repeating this action over and over, earning moan after wanton moan from you. Yunho opened his eyes to see how Mingi had positioned himself behind you, sitting on the opposite side of him, Mingi’s ringed fingers groping at your tits. They eventually shared heated eye contact, both growing harder at the mere sight of one another. 

“How does she taste?” Mingi’s voice is gravelly, low, and dripping with lust. “Tell me, Yun.” 

“Like heaven,” Yunho sighs out onto your hot skin, tonguing at your wet hole and pushing the tip inside. It slips out when you tighten up around it, but Yunho doesn’t give up, forcing it back in, much to your approval, flicking it in and out, in and out, until his chin is soaked with your arousal. He couldn’t help but chuckle with delight, licking his lips clean. “Your princess is making a mess.” 

Mingi couldn’t help but run the pad of his thumb over his twitching cock head, spreading the abundant pre-cum along the rest of his length. “Keep going, and she’ll make an even bigger one…”  

Taking that as a challenge, Yunho dove back in, with even more enthusiastic drags of his tongue this time around, aggressively guiding your hips to his favor. 

You tossed your head back, broken moans and expletives falling from your lips. You instinctively reached out, wanting to hold onto something: Yunho’s shaggy hair, your boyfriend, the warm sheets, or something, anything, when Mingi took hold of your wrists and held you still, his fingers slowly moving down to interlace with yours. “Oh my god–fuck, please…!” 

“Yes, that’s it, baby,” Mingi encouraged softly, giving your hands a gentle squeeze or two. “That’s my girl, being so good for us…”

Yunho’s hum vibrated through your lower half, his nose only bumping into your clit one more time, before a spray of arousal hit his moving tongue. It wasn’t until he could hear your juices splatter down onto his bare skin and the bed that his eyes rolled underneath his fluttering eyelids. “Oh my god…” He was so dizzy with lust, he was going to bust at any second, if he wasn’t careful. Just then, he noticed Mingi pulling you up into his arms, your back to his chest. He watched Mingi tilt your head until your lips met, throbbing at the sight of his tongue disappearing into your mouth. 

With Mingi’s arm snaking around your middle, his hand  cupping your sensitive cunt and his tongue down your throat, you opened your eyes to gaze at Yunho’s lips. Wanting to taste yourself, you lazily broke the kiss with Mingi, pulling Yunho closer to you, so close that you could still see drops of your arousal stuck to his glasses. “I taste like heaven, huh?” 

“Mm-hm…” Yunho pressed in closer, sandwiching you in between him and your boyfriend, his hands moving downwards to explore the closest expanse of skin, whether it was yours or Mingi’s. “I’ll show you.” 

Yunho’s tongue slid into your mouth before you had a chance to properly taste his lips, letting you taste your warm arousal instead. Just then, Mingi lifted your hips up and back down onto his stiff cock, not even moving, just wanting to feel the way you stretched open to accommodate him. It felt so good, he couldn’t help but throb, eyes shutting tight from the pleasure, immediately kissing back when your lips were back on his. You turned your head slightly to kiss each of them, your boyfriend and roommate taking turns swallowing each and every moan you let out, that is, until your lips and tongues met in the middle. 

Soon, you pulled away to take a much needed breath, unable to catch it, especially now that you realized the two men didn’t seem to stop like you did, instead tilting their heads in opposite directions to deepen the kiss, drool dripping along their chins. They both gripped your hips from either side, mutually guiding them up and down, just as Mingi began to thrust up into you, Yunho’s cock rubbing along your clit at the same time. Once your cunt squeezed around Mingi’s cock, he knocked his head back, forcing the string of saliva that connected their lips to break apart. “Fuck, baby– princess, you’re squeezing so tight…feels so good…” 

“Is she? I bet she’ll squeeze even harder with me inside,” Yunho panted near your ear, his head spinning, swearing all the blood in his body had traveled to his heavy cock. 

“What are you waiting for? Give it to me..!” you gasped out, unable to control the volume of your voice, not when Mingi was slamming into you like a short-circuiting sex machine.

“Give it to her, Yun,” Mingi encouraged raspily, lifting your body up and lowering you back down, feeling your cunt slowly stretch open to fit the both of them inside and swallow them up completely. Once Yunho bucked his hips up, Mingi joined suit, their slick cocks rubbing along one another so quick, they would occasionally slip out, though they simply pushed back in and fucked you harder than before. “Oh, that’s it…oh, god…”

“I’m gonna–nnnngh,” Yunho cut his announcement off with a moan, gritting his teeth tight, pumping what seemed to be an endless load into your already used pussy. “Fuck, it really won’t stop…I’m gonna knock up your girlfriend, Min…” 

Just when you thought you would pass out, Mingi wrapped his arms tight around your middle, his hands laid flat against your stomach, swearing he could feel his roommate’s cock underneath the pads of his fingers. “What’s mine is yours,” Mingi sighed out, pulling out for a moment, just to force himself back in, shooting thick ropes of cum deep into your womb. Panting heavily, your boyfriend’s hands slid down along your abdomen, only having to pinch and rub at your clit for a moment, before you completely unraveled in between their heaving bodies. 

Yunho pulled his glasses off, tossing them onto the bed. “You really mean that, Min?” he asked, leaning in closer. Not only did he have free rein with his roommate’s pretty little girlfriend, but Mingi seemed to be up for grabs as well. If this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up. “Does that include you?” 

Mingi scoffed, his cheeks hot to the touch, hoping Yunho couldn’t feel how hard he just got. “Now, let’s not get carried away.” 

© kitten4sannie, 2024.

fff taglist: @yutasbutterfly02 @wisejudgedragonhairdo @dawn-iscozy @bbdeongi @multistanbaby @cr4zyf0rm @kittenfrostt @magicshop1913 @enbysforhongjoong @londonbridges01 @mingisdimple @motherseonghwa23 @wwooyology @everyonewooeverywhere @leo-seonghwa @yourfatherlucifer @hwallazia @vampzity

[five-bi-five-mind]

so I am obsessed with your jj x readers fics, esp the top!jj and jealous!jj ones. so I have a request (if you take requests).

jj had Henry but she and Will didn't end up together because Will wasn't willing to sacrifice his career and neither was JJ but they used to spend a lot of time together for Henry. Fem!reader started working for the BAU when Henry is five, and JJ and Reader started sneaking around together. JJ is possessive of reader but they're both closeted, even though reader is now willing to go public. but then Will returned, wanting to be a family for Henry's sake and JJ agrees to give it a shot, breaking reader's heart. A month or so later, the BAU returned from a gruelling case and go to a bar to wind down. JJ and Reader haven't really spoken since things ended except for work purposes. But when JJ sees a guy flirt with and kiss reader at the bar, she grabs reader and takes her to the bathroom and becomes possessive....After, reader asks JJ what she wants because jj's behaviour is confusing and JJ says "You" (thank you)

Breaking Point

Fandom: Criminal Minds

Pairing: Jennifer Jareau x fem!reader

Genre: Angst, Smut

Words: 11.7k+

Summary: JJ fell for you hard, but she wasn't good with feelings and she liked having control. Only problem was, she lost all of it any time you were around. Now, Will is trying to push her to restart a relationship and all she can do is push you away to handle all these complicated feelings.

Warning: rough sex, overstimulation, possessive sex, possessive!JJ, little bit of toxic!JJ, dubiously consensual kissing, double sided strap-on, multiple orgasms, vibrator, bottom!r, top!JJ, alcohol mention, biting... I think that about covers it.

A/N: I took a break but now we're so back and it feels good to be back. Hope y'all enjoy a JJ fic!!

(gif not mine, credit to luthqrs)

She had fallen first. You always joked that it was you who did and you were just waiting for her to stop being so wrapped up in her own head, but no. If only you knew how mistaken you were.

She most certainly had fallen first, and dare she say, she had also fallen harder. Not that any of that seems apparent to you now, or ever will at this point, if JJ were being honest with herself. But she would go to her grave denying any claim that you were the one to fall first or to love her harder.

See, she fell for you the moment she saw you. She might be practical, she might be calculated and calm and she prided herself in always weighing the risks versus the reward. JJ built her life around assessing every situation and making sure every single action she took, every choice she made, made sense for her future. But then her eyes fell upon you and all of that went out the window.

She replays that first day you came to the BAU in her head more times  than she could care to count. That day she met you, you were just starting as part of the team. She heard your laugh from the halls before she even saw your face. The feeling of your laugh ringing through her ears, washing over her entire being, she won’t ever forget. She didn’t understand why she felt the way that she did then, not until her eyes finally met yours, but that was hours later. 

Somehow, the two of you managed to miss properly introducing each other for most of that first day. You were off getting familiar with the BAU, catching up on who’s who and where’s what. She was wrapped up in a case close to home that seemed like it was all dead ends. It wasn’t until the end of that work day did she finally run into you. Literally.

With her hands full of files and her eyes glued to the words written in them, she kept walking until she smacked right into you. To her own defense, you were looking everywhere but up, trying to find the right room number to finally meet the elusive JJ in the first place. Neither of you were looking forward until your bodies collided and her papers started flying everywhere.

JJ was immediately mortified and frustrated and for a moment there was utter silence as you both looked down at the mess of papers around you. But then you looked up and laughed. It caught her off guard again, but she didn’t know why. Maybe it was that the feeling washed over her again. A feeling she rarely feels these days with her line of work. A feeling that something pure and happy was in her presence. It’s that sort of feeling that rubs off on people, but rarely does it grace the BAU halls. And then she looked up.

Your eyes sparkled as you laughed. “Well, that’s one way to make an introduction I guess,” you said to her between giggles. Without even knowing it, she was smiling back at you. She thought to ask if you were okay, but words were hard to get out. 

You scooped up all her papers and she just stood there, eyes wide, as you placed them back in her hands. When you told her your name and that it was nice to meet her, finally she found her voice again and said the same. 

The meeting might have been ordinary to you, but to her it was the first time in a long time that the world felt lighter. It was the moment that you walked out the door from your first day with the BAU that JJ swore to herself to make sure you never lost that light. This job could be monstrous, but you weren’t a field agent. She could shield you, she could protect you.

It was in that small moment that JJ fell in love, even if it took her weeks to realize what that feeling was. The need to protect you grew as she watched you wince from across the room each time new crime scene photos were presented for each new case. She remembered being like you, she literally was you. Now you’re the new communications liaison and you still had the same sick feeling she used to get when the horrors of the world were being highlighted page after page on the table in front of you. 

—----------------------------

It was only a few short months before the feelings JJ had for you boiled over. She’d like to say she was good at hiding them, and to an extent, she was, but she unfortunately had a breaking point. What she really regretted was how that breaking point came about and what actions it resulted in.

In JJ’s best efforts to shield you from a job that, in all reality, was impossible for someone to be shielded from at least some horrors, JJ had also somehow convinced you and a lot of people around you that she hated you. She would urge for you to not be put on certain cases, but that would come in the form of her– unintentionally –making it sound like you were not qualified or skilled enough to handle those cases. JJ didn’t think that in the slightest, though. She really thought you were better at the job of being a liaison than she ever was. But she also knew the path she took from being a liaison, to finding herself in danger in the field and not as prepared as she should’ve been at times. She couldn’t handle you following that same path, so she did what she could. 

The rumors that she hated you were also not helped by the fact that she absolutely froze up any time you tried to talk to her. She had no idea what this magnetic pull was that she felt any time you were near. She thought about you when you were around and even more when you weren’t. JJ knew she should’ve actually tried to have more conversations with you, squash the rumors that she hated you finally, but any time she tried to get closer to you the pull got stronger. And then by the time you did approach her, her mind was so wrapped up in the feeling that she just couldn’t think to get any words out. Everything about you confused her. 

What made matters worse, however, was that JJ found herself always near you even when it wasn’t by her own choice. In the office, she was always nearby to make sure you didn’t walk into a wall, since you had this annoyingly charming habit of reading files and walking at the same time. Or, JJ always noticed you had a knack for getting up any time the jet had turbulence and she would often shoot up and catch you before you fell. Anytime that happened, JJ would feel like her skin was on fire wherever your delicate hands would steady themselves on her strong arms. It always made her stomach twist in a way that felt similar to when she used to have a fear of flying, only the feeling would stick with her when they landed and then hours after. 

While JJ savored these moments without really knowing why, it came across quite differently for you. JJ’s eyes would always harden anytime she stepped back once you regained your footing and she wouldn’t stop staring at you. To everyone around the both of you, it looked like she was glaring. In reality, JJ was just trying to figure it all out. But as more and more time went by, she was starting to piece everything together.

Feelings weren’t something JJ was good at, but she couldn’t deny that they were building within her. She had decided maybe she should ignore them. If she stuffed them down long enough she could either get used to living with the feeling or they’d go away. At least that’s what she told herself, but then there was a day that your time overlapped with that one intern… The one with the rich dad and the shit eating grin. 

JJ was in the absolute worst mood and he was just making it worse. He usually flirted with the other interns and she didn’t care about that but today, she guessed he was going for a different target. And any time JJ heard his obnoxious voice flow through the halls, calling your name for you to slow down so he could catch up, asking you a useless question, it just made things worse. She snapped three pencils that day and it wasn’t even noon yet then. 

When he finally came to her office to ask if she needed anything, she thought asking him for a big coffee order for the office, but for specific coffee across town would solve her problems at least temporarily. She just wanted him away from you; he kept getting too fucking close. And she told herself this wasn’t about jealousy, it wasn’t because she wanted you and couldn’t have you, it was because he was going through interns like they were nothing and she didn’t want to see him treat you like that too. Except, her plan to get you away from him backfired in the worst possible way. 

She didn’t think he would have the guts to ask you to join him in assisting, and she didn’t think you would use your lunch break to assist. But of course you did, because you’re kind and he played it up, acting like he could use all the help he could get. That just soured JJ’s mood even more.

It took over an hour for you to return with that guy too and the whole time JJ kept picturing the worst. How he might be driving with his hand on your thigh, when it should be hers. How he could be making you laugh and smile when JJ just wants to be the reason you do that just once more for her. How he could be asking you on a date and she wouldn’t be there to somehow interject and make sure that never happens in a million years.

She wouldn’t ever know if her first two worries happened to have come true, but to her utter horror the last one did. As he brought back the coffee, handing it out to all the team, he turned and gave you that same scheming grin and said the words that JJ absolutely did not want to here. “So, that’s a yes for Friday night?” 

It wasn’t said to the room, obviously. It was said to you as you stood next to him and sorted out the pastry orders for the rest of the team. You just looked back at him and gave him a small smile and a brief nod. You didn’t have to say anything for JJ to know her worst nightmare was confirmed, and yet she couldn’t stop herself from asking her own question as she stood in front of you and waited for the items she requested. 

“What’s friday?” It sounded just as angry as JJ felt. But what didn’t help the situation was the way you flinched at her tone and how your eyes widened in fear. 

“Oh– uh…” you stuttered, your eyes still looking at JJ with shock and confusion. “We’re just going for drinks, no big deal.” 

Why did JJ feel her stomach drop at the way your eyes moved from hers to then look down at the floor? JJ winced at her own actions, but it was like something else took over for her as your words began to sink in. “Can I see you in my office, (Y/N)?” Suddenly, she was on autopilot as the idea of you going out at night with him washed over her like molten lava. “Alone.” 

She caught the look you gave the intern and the look he gave back, and JJ’s rampant jealousy flared, but to her relief you just nodded.

She didn’t wait for you to start moving before she turned on her heel and started striding to her office. When JJ reached the office she held the door for you and you walked in on shaky legs. She would’ve felt guilty at how nervous she was making you, but right now she could care less. She needed to squash these plans, no matter what. She had no idea how, but right now logic was out the window. 

“Listen, I know that dating is frowned upon in the office but it’s not a–”

“You’re right,” JJ cut you off mid sentence, closing the door behind you with a slam. “So why are you announcing to the whole office that you intend to do it anyways?”

“L-look I’m sorry,” you were panicking as you looked back at JJ, still standing between you and the door with her arms crossed. “But it’s not a date. We’re going out for drinks. That is all, nothing the team doesn’t do regularly.”

“It’s completely different,” JJ snapped back. 

“How so?” You were just confused if you were being honest. Not mad at the reaction of your colleague, but utterly lost to why it seemed like JJ was so angry from this that she was visibly shaking.

“Because he wants to sleep with you!” JJ knew she was breaking some sort of rules with HR with that outburst but she could care less. Her nails were digging into her own arms as she stood, fuming in front of you.

“That–” You honestly couldn’t think of a comeback. You were so shocked by her outburst that your mind was racing too fast for you to keep up. “Why do you care?” It was all you could manage to ask. 

“Why do you want to?” JJ really needed to stop at this point, but her blood was boiling and her skin was on fire and she kept taking steps until she was in your personal space and had backed you up against her own desk.

“It’s not against the rules, it’s just frowned upon, but I won’t lose my job for it. I’m allowed to get a drink with him.” You were trying to rationalize something that you didn’t even want to do. It was just drinks, and he was nice, you didn’t want to date him you just wanted to have a good time with someone for a few hours until you had to go home to an empty apartment, was that so wrong? 

“It’s not okay.” JJ was breathing hard and she was standing so close to you that you could practically feel her body against yours.

“Why?” You were getting frustrated. Your brain was working fast, trying to figure out what the hell was going on here.

The simple “why” was something JJ couldn’t answer. She didn’t have an angry remark, she didn’t have anything smart to say. Her heart was beating so fast she could hear it pounding in her ears and all she could manage was a frustrated, “It just fucking isn’t!”

“Does this have to do with the team or is this just your problem, JJ?” You were finally pushing back, but you still remained still. The confusion was irritating and her bad attitude was starting to rub off on you. The way her adrenaline was pumping, her aggressive reaction, it was all seeping into you and suddenly your scared demeanor flipped. “You’ve had a problem with me since day one! What is it? You’re trying to push me out right? I can’t even make friends with the intern, is that it? If you want me out of this team so badly, I can just go because obviously this isn’t working out! Not when every single little thing I do pisses you off so badly. I don’t know what I even did you, but I’ve had it with–”

And just like that JJ snapped. All control went out the window. You were mid angry rant but the thought of you leaving the BAU scared her just as much and her resolve crumbled. 

Her lips smashed against yours with such a force that you had to brace yourself on her desk until your knuckles turned white. Her kiss was brutal, it was angry, it was passionate and the way she had finally released her own arms to grip your chin had you grunt against her lips. Your eyes were wide for a moment as her lips pressed harder against yours, moving in a way so yours parted enough for her tongue to graze yours. And when it did you couldn’t help the way your eyes slipped shut and a slight shiver ran through your body. One of her hands was still gripping your chin tight, but the other had snaked its way down and around your waist so you didn’t have to steady yourself so hard on her desk. This also meant her full body was pressed up against yours and you were surprised by how much heat you felt as she leaned into you. You were also surprised by how much your own body melted into hers as she let out a groan against your own lips. It wasn’t until you heard that groan that you realized, you had been kissing her back. You had maybe resisted for a moment, but at some point your hands weren’t on the desk but in her hair, your lips had parted more, and you had let her tongue run against yours in a hungry frenzy. 

But then reality sunk in for a moment and, since you no longer needed the support to stay up right since you were now seated on her desk, you removed your hands from her hair and moved them to her chest to shoved hard. Surprisingly hard for someone who had maybe a fraction of JJ’s strength.

She stumbled back, her eyes wide and her lips red and wet from the force and messiness of the kiss she didn’t mean to give. There was a pause, a silence that hung over the room as you both just stared at each other. 

JJ was trying to think of excuses, of reasons for why the hell she would force herself on you like that. She was so angry she didn’t think and now she was angry at herself for doing something so out of character.

But then you took a deep breath and JJ’s eyes flew from the floor back up to meet your own. “So…” you cleared your throat as you struggled to find the words you wanted to use. “I guess that explains some things.” 

And then you laughed, a real, genuine laugh, and JJ’s whole body relaxed. 

—----------------------------------------------------------

Obviously, you did not go out for drinks with the intern. Instead, you and JJ had a talk and JJ had essentially poured her guts out to you and you had told her that you felt the same exact pull she was feeling. The only difference was, you actually knew how to handle your feelings, but with how JJ had been acting, you had convinced yourself that it was very much one sided. 

Clearly it wasn’t, and after that moment in the office you had decided to try to follow your feelings with her, albeit slowly and without announcing it to the team for at least a good while. Keeping it a secret from the team was working out well, but the taking things slow part went out the window basically the same night as your first kiss. 

JJ had the idea of talking alone, just the two of you at her place. That very quickly ended in her taking you right then and there on her couch for the first time. You should’ve been embarrassed you couldn’t even make it to her bed, but the way she kissed you like she was trying to savor every single inch of you, you never stood a chance at resisting her. 

After that, well, the two of you were goners. Sneaking office kisses– and sometimes even more… whenever you’d get the chance. She insisted on being secretive and careful for numerous reasons, and you were okay with that as long as it meant JJ was all yours. 

After six months of sneaking around had gone by, you did, however, reveal your secret to her child. It was entirely by accident and all due to the ex of hers that you never liked, nor trusted. 

You both had been in bed, wrapped around each other the way you both would every single night since you exchanged “I love yous” three months prior. This time, luckily, you were both clothed. Both of you were tired from a case and just wanted to fall asleep in the safety of each other’s arms. 

But then, early in the morning, an excited blonde head peaked through the door and that peaceful sleep you were once in was rudely awakened. It felt like someone drenched you in frigid water, the way JJ’s eyes snapped open and met yours in terror before snapping to the child bounding for the bed. 

She jumped up with record speed and met him before he could jump in. “Henry, h-hi buddy. What are you doing here? Where’s your dad?”

Before she could even answer she heard his voice call from further in the house. “Hey, we just let ourselves in!” You really hated that he had his own key, but knew as they were co-parents it was necessary. Plus, that’s not what was on your mind right now. Now, you were also standing out of bed and just looking around the room helplessly as if hiding would solve anything. 

“Mommy, you had a sleepover?” His innocent question felt like a shot to the heart. You both froze. JJ had a forced smile on her face that she directed toward her son but you couldn’t bring yourself to fix your expression. It was one of utter shock and horror. 

You had met Henry, even spent plenty of time with him in the last six months. JJ would just say you’re a good friend and he happily accepted that. In all honesty, he adored you and you felt the same for him, each time you saw him it felt more like you were becoming a family, even if he was totally oblivious to that feeling. But the two of you hadn’t talked about actually telling him what you were, you never wanted to push it with JJ. 

“Uh…” JJ laughed nervously, her eyes shooting between him and you. “Yeah, buddy.”

She was trying hard to think of some way to come up with an excuse for what you were doing in her bed. She knew he didn’t really need an answer, but she feared what he would say to his father, her ex, when Henry inevitably spilled the beans. 

“So,” you heard Will’s voice call from the hall. “We thought we’d surprise you, take you to breakfast!” 

His voice was getting closer and closer and you were frozen in place. There was no way for you to hide now, nowhere for you to run. 

“Sorry to wake you and all, doll,” his voice continued to get louder. “But the little guy just wanted to surprise you.” 

You could hear the creaks of his steps right around the corner. 

“So what do you say?” His voice was right by the doorway now. “Breakfast as a family sounds…”

He didn’t finish his sentence as he entered the doorway. his voice trailed off and his eyes were wide. He was looking between the child clinging to his ex and you, a person he’s met two or three in passing because of the job, standing two feet from the bed. A bed that was unmade and clearly slept in by both of you. 

“You have company.” His whole demeanor changed in an instance. His eyes hardened and his jaw set. “I didn’t know…”

He trailed off again and you heard the unspoken words. He didn’t know JJ was seeing other people. He didn’t know JJ was seeing a co-worker. He didn’t know JJ even liked women. They were all questions you could see swirling in his mind. 

“I’m just leaving,” you finally spoke up. Something told you, you didn’t want to be here for whatever discussion was about to happen. JJ looked over as soon as she heard your voice and gave you both an apologetic, but relieved look. 

You didn’t even gather your clothes. You grabbed your phone and keys, and left in your fuzzy pajamas. 

When you got back to your place you were a mess. Nothing could’ve prepared you for starting your morning like that. JJ sent a text maybe fifteen minutes after you got back home with a quick apology and a promise to talk later. 

But then you didn’t hear from her for hours after that. And hours more once the sun went down. And then suddenly the weekend went by and hours became days. JJ took time off of work and those days turned in to almost two weeks.

You were a mess. The team saw, but didn’t say anything. You just tried your best to do the job. 

For JJ’s part she was also a mess. She knew she needed to see you, to talk to you, to do what she never thought in a million years that she would ever do. That’s why she was ghosting you, so she could put off the pain that she knew was going to feel like ripping out her own heart and stomping all over it and yours in the process too. 

After that day, Will and her had argued. He had told her that he never expected her to move on to someone else. That he always expected she would come back to him once they both felt less married to their jobs. When JJ had said that, though, that was just her excuse to spare his feelings. Will had never made her happy, not in the way she was when she was with you. 

But his words still twisted in her gut like a knife. They spent hours screaming back and forth about everything until he finally took the low blow and used Henry as an excuse. He convinced JJ that when they were apart, Henry would be a mess that he couldn’t be with both his parents at once. 

If JJ was thinking logically, she would’ve seen through that lie since Henry not once mentioned that to her. But she was caught off guard and Will was pressing all the right buttons to make her guilt and anxiety rise, until finally she heard herself give in to him. 

She uttered four words to him and that was all it took to realize JJ had lost this battle. “I’ll break it off.” 

JJ wasn’t ready to accept the full weight of those words. It’s why she didn’t answer your calls or texts and why she took off work for over a week. In that time she didn’t see Will either though. After a few days he added into his arguing that they needed to try again and she adamantly disagreed. She tried to push alternatives, more time spent together with Henry, but not together in a romantic sense. He wasn’t happy about it, but agreed to take what he could get, always saying it was a “start” but JJ didn’t like what that implied. 

What made matters even worse was that she saw you before she was ready to face you and it all happened completely by accident. 

It was rounding on two weeks and JJ was running out of vacation time, so she knew she had to break the news to you soon, she just wasn’t ready for it to be that soon. 

Except, she had foolishly agreed to dinner with Will to discuss Henry away from the house. He convinced her that their son didn’t need to hear them argue and that they’d be more likely to keep their voices level in public. She really shouldn’t have agreed, but she did. And that’s how she found herself seated across from Will at a semi-nice restaurant for the evening. 

To add to everything else, when she realized you were there too, was the exact moment that Will reached out and put his hand over her own. She wasn’t even sure what he was saying, not when the rest of the world felt like it was frozen and crumbling around her all at the same time. 

There you were, about to be seated with Emily walking in behind you. The look in your eye told JJ she didn’t need to say any words to rip your heart out, you figured it out on your own all in that moment. To make matters worse, JJ would usually recoil from Will’s touch, but being so shocked to see you, she couldn’t move a single muscle. 

Your eyes switched between looking at her horrified face to Will’s smug one and then finally to the way his hand laid over hers. It made you sick. Emily stopped in her tracks behind you taking in the scene and no doubt understanding why your body language had changed. 

She had taken you out, guessing the relationship between you and JJ within seconds of it starting. She also knew there was trouble in paradise, so when Emily confirmed you hadn’t heard from JJ after over a week had gone by, she thought a nice dinner would help. At least it would get you out of the apartment. You had stopped leaving other than to go to work since that fateful day. 

Emily didn’t need to see your face to know it was filled with hurt. She put one hand on your shoulder and leaned close to whisper a simple “let’s go” in your ear. 

JJ watched, sick to her stomach, as you nodded and turned back around. All too late her brain fully processed what happened and she shot up from her seat as she watched Emily help put your coat on at the door. 

There was no conversation after that. You didn’t need one, you understood and you avoided her like the plague. 

————————-

Three months went by after that. The two of you only talked when you needed to. You spent more and more time laying in bed than you’d like to admit and JJ… Well, she fell into a pit of self loathing for how much you were hurting. 

Still she didn’t give into Will, despite what you and others might think. She would go along with his plan to spend more time together, but only platonically. And the only reason she agreed to that was because the days she spent at home without Henry were torture. She would stare at the phone and hope for you to call or for her to get the courage to call you, knowing she really could not do that after everything. 

If she wasn’t staring at the phone alone on her own, or ignoring her heartache by spending time with her son, she was busy staring at you any time you worked together. You felt her eyes burn into the back of your head and it always made your chest hurt. You tried your best to ignore it, to ignore her, but there was only so much you could do when she hovered.

Again, you were thinking about finding another job. The only thing was you had just gotten comfortable here. And really, Emily had been your rock through all of this. She had spent a lot of time listening to your heartbreak when you finally revealed what she already knew about the two of you. Emily had even offered to try to talk some sense into JJ, but that avoiding that she was extending to you had unfortunately also extended to the rest of the team. She couldn’t handle seeing any of them, especially if they were going to, undoubtedly, question her about her increased time with Will and what was going on with her intense mood. 

The closeness of you and Emily was starting to drive JJ crazy. She had a million questions ever since she saw her put a hand on your shoulder that fateful day. But she also fully recognized that she had absolutely no right to ask you any questions, and honestly she didn’t think she could handle hearing them for two reasons. One being that if Emily and you were romantically involved it would crush JJ even more, the other being that last time JJ got jealous, her control slipped and that’s what led her to this heartache in the first place.

So instead, JJ just watched and tried to see if she could figure out exactly what was going on. Of course, she told herself she also watched to protect you. Maybe she was a coward who fled from you, but she was still trying to keep some of the promise she made to herself about you since the first day she met you. She already let some of your light die, but she knew that was from how she had hurt you. Those wounds would heal, at least she thought so, but the way this job can leave an impression on a person really couldn’t. She just couldn’t have you getting hurt by anything else. 

Except, when she pushed for you to be away from a case, you started pushing even more strongly for that exact case that she so badly did not want you to have. It was like you were purposely putting her through hell. She had to worry about you and keep her distance for some of these cases, the only good thing was that with Emily close to you now, at least two capable agents could protect you. Anytime she saw Emily do exactly what she swore she would always do, protect you, comfort you from the horrors of a bad case, it would feel like JJ’s heart was ripping at the seams.

And then there was one case that was just too horrible that even JJ could barely stomach it. But you still insisted on heading over with the team. JJ watched with a grimace on her face as Emily sat by you on the jet, her hand on your arm, trying to coach you on what to expect and how to take precautions. JJ was fuming at her close proximity and the way Emily was gentle with you in a manner she didn’t think she had ever seen from the other agent.

It wasn’t at all what JJ thought, though. You didn’t mean to challenge JJ when you insisted on these cases. You just couldn’t stomach going home to your empty apartment so much anymore, not when the ache of losing JJ was getting even worse. So you clung to Emily, your new friend, your confidant. She was a small light in the darkness that was surrounding you both at work and in your own personal life. There was nothing romantic between you two, it was just like you clicked as fast friends and that’s what you really needed right now.

So when a hard case came up and Emily was assigned to it, you insisted on going too so you wouldn’t feel so alone. Every single time, you ignored the snide remarks JJ made when she didn’t get her way. And you definitely tried not to acknowledge the jealous glaring JJ would send your way any time Emily put her hand on you. Deep down, you knew exactly what JJ was thinking about when it came to your closeness with Emily and you hoped she thought it. In fact, you hoped it hurt her. At least then she would have a taste of the suffering she put you through each night you knew she would go home to Will. 

But with this last case, everything was just so much worse. 

Not only were you in a small town with a hotel that had limited availability– so of course, to JJ’s utter dismay, you shared a room with Emily– but you insisted on being way too close to where the danger was. JJ couldn’t help but think that you were so over her and into Emily that you couldn’t be separated for one goddamn second. It wasn’t like that though, if JJ was being logical, she would’ve known it was because you were determined to help in any way you could. 

Except, being closer to the case meant you were closer and closer to being the next victim of this unsub and it had JJ near her breaking point yet again. She hovered closer than ever, and you felt that from the way her fiery eyes would stare at you for hours on end as you and Emily worked closely together on how best to respond to the public while she was busy trying to find the killer.

And of course, the perfect storm came the moment both JJ and Emily took their eyes off you. You got attacked, you almost got shot, you could’ve died. JJ was tired of watching you walk into a hotel room with Emily right behind you and she had to ask. She couldn’t handle it anymore, she told herself if she just found out that you were at least happy with Emily then she would stop hovering, she would try to stop caring.

So she pulled Emily aside, for a moment– it was just a moment. But it was all it took for you to get snatched. JJ didn’t get to ask her question, she heard the struggle and her stomach dropped when she turned around and you weren’t there.

Then, of course, it was Emily who stayed calm. It was Emily who made the plan. It was Emily who found you, found the unsub, and rescued you from a fate JJ was always worried you’d meet. You were bruised and battered, but ultimately fine. JJ wanted to run to you, to hold you and comfort you and care for your wounds, but it was Emily who ran to you first. It was Emily who pulled you into her arms and squeezed you tight. And as JJ ran in behind her and saw the way she held onto you and you held onto her, her feet froze and she couldn’t bear to look at either of you. 

Seeing all of that, going through that case on the sidelines while you were almost lost forever, it was killing JJ. She couldn’t pretend she was okay without you anymore, she couldn’t pretend to be a happy family with Will either. She didn’t know what was happening between you and Emily, but she had to find out, and more than anything she had to see if she could get you to give her another chance.

Emily was her friend, and part of her felt guilty that if her assumptions were true she would essentially be trying to steal her best friend’s girlfriend, but you were hers first. JJ wanted you to be only hers always, and she was just now waking up to that realization.

—-----------------------------

As soon as you all returned from that case, JJ set the record straight with Will. She had long since realized that Henry didn’t really care to spend time with them together. If anything, JJ realized, Henry missed time with you. 

Will did not take it well, but JJ was prepared for that. She threatened court and full custody and he finally backed down. She had gotten him to agree to only see each other for drop offs with Henry and forced him to give her spare key back.

A week had gone by since that case, but the whole team was still feeling the exhaustion from it. When Penelope suggested everyone get drinks, JJ surprised herself by agreeing. But then again, she saw the way Emily approved of that idea and knew that if Emily was going, you would be there. JJ was determined to figure out what was happening between the two of you and watching the way you two were together at the bar would be an excellent clue before JJ finally got up the nerve– for the second time –to confront Emily and figure things out. 

When you all got to the bar, JJ noted how the two of you came in together. She wasn’t surprised, but it made her blood boil in a way that was familiar to when that intern got too close to you. 

You sat in a booth with Penelope and Morgan chatting away while Emily sat her stuff next to you and went to the bar for a couple of drinks. JJ sat at a table with Hotch and Reid, they were discussing something beyond her, but she couldn’t bother to listen. Her eyes were glued to you.

For the most part, you knew she was staring, but you had gotten really good at ignoring it the past few months. Except, this last week it had been worse. She would not only stare at you, but glare at Emily, her own friend. You knew, by the way your pulse sped up each time you caught the look JJ was wearing, that something had to give, you just didn’t know when. You especially didn’t think it would be on a night at the bar, with the entire team surrounding you. 

Three drinks in for you and Penelope suggested some dancing. You didn’t dance, Emily didn’t dance, but Penelope pulled the two of you up and out of the booth anyways. So then you found yourself dancing very close to Emily while Penelope was happily moving along with the music and Morgan right next to you. 

You had never been a good dancer though, so when you tripped on your own feet Emily’s arms flung out to catch you and you found yourself pressed against her. It all happened entirely too fast after that. 

There was a loud slam of a glass somewhere in the distance and then a hand roughly tugging your whole body back by the shoulder. “Can I talk to you for a second?” JJ’s voice was louder than it needed to be, even over the music. Emily had backed up, her hands in the air as if JJ was armed and aiming for her. 

You didn’t even know when JJ had spun you around and away from Emily’s embrace. Your head turned to look at Emily and her face wasn’t even shocked. It was just expectant and unsurprised. She gave you a short nod, looking at you with soft eyes, but before you could even agree JJ pressed again.

“Do I need to ask for your permission to talk to (Y/N)?” 

“JJ!” You gasped at her harsh tone. She had never talked to Emily like that, she would never dare. But she’s also had a couple drinks and she was about done watching her best friend have her hands all over the girl of her dreams. 

“It’s not my decision,” Emily said, keeping a calm and level tone. 

“Excellent,” JJ hissed as her hand grabbed yours and tugged.

She had realized that meant it was up to you, but she didn’t give you a chance to agree. She needed to figure this out alone, right then and there, and in her anger she decided she needed to hear you say it. She needed you to admit that you were able to move on from her so quickly and with her closest friend no less. How could you even do something like that to her? JJ was seething. Yes, she knew it looked like she immediately moved on with Will before even actually properly breaking up with you, but she hadn’t! Aside from that moment where he touched her hand, JJ wouldn’t let him have any sort of physical contact with her after that. She loathed his touch, and she couldn’t imagine you’d be able to handle anyone else’s but hers. After all those nights of admitting to her that you were hers alone, she never thought you’d move on so quickly. But here you were, and to her, it looked like you were utterly wrapped up in Emily.

“JJ, what the actual fuck?” you were protesting as JJ was dragging you across the bar and towards the bathroom. She didn’t seem to care though, as she practically shoved you into the bathroom before stepping in and locking the door behind you.

“I didn’t say that I wanted to talk!” You took a step back from her.

“We need to,” JJ snapped back. She realized she was one to talk, considering the two of you never properly had a break up conversation. But at least now, you could have that or some sort of conversation. Whatever was going to happen, JJ knew it needed to be said.

“We could’ve done that any other time,” you began with your arms crossed over your chest. “It’s been months. And now, with everyone having seen your little outburst– Now, you want to talk to me?” 

“What’s going on between you and Emily?” Okay, so JJ was ignoring everything you said to her now. JJ knew this wasn’t the healthiest way to work out her feelings, but she couldn’t help it. This was driving her crazy, her control was slipping again. There was just something about you that made the resolve she worked on for your years go out the window.

“What?” You took another step back in surprise. JJ followed. “Nothing! Why do you care?” 

“It doesn’t look like nothing,” JJ pressed, taking another step into your personal space.

“Why. Do. You. Care.” You emphasized every word, getting more angry by the second. 

“It hasn’t been that long, (Y/N)!” JJ was still taking a step forward for every step back you took until your back hit the bathroom wall. “Now you’re fucking my friend?”

“So what if I am?” You threw your hands up in frustration. “I can fuck whoever I want! I can go home with a random stranger, I can go home with Emily, I can fuck anyone I want. You know why, JJ?” Your finger poked hard into her chest as you finally reached your own breaking point. “Because you’re fucking your ex and you didn’t even have the decency to break up with me!”

“So you are fucking Emily?”

“Jesus Christ, JJ!” You were yelling, you knew you were yelling, and you knew someone could hear you if they were too close to the bar bathroom. At this point you didn’t care. “NO! I am not, but you know what, maybe I will. Maybe I’ll go home with Emily tonight, maybe I’ll go home with a stranger. I don’t have to be alone just because you decided you don’t want to be with me anymore. And I think it’s time for me to finally, finally move on from you JJ. I’m not yours, I don’t belong to you, I can go fuck–” you practically spit out the word, “whoever the fuck I want.” 

JJ stopped for a second. An uncomfortable silence fell over you as you huffed in heavy breathes from your outburst and the rage boiling through your veins. You took a step forward trying to leave, but in that moment JJ took one too until you were forced to retreat, your back again pressed to the wall. This time she was right in your personal space, much like that first day that she kissed you.

“No you can’t,” JJ’s voice shook with anger as she spoke, but it wasn’t a yell. It was a low, daring tone that made your skin crawl. 

“What?” Your eyes were wide in shock that JJ, after your outburst, would still deny you your own freedom. “Yes, I ca–” 

You couldn’t finish your words, JJ was already on you. In fact, she was pressing her whole body so hard against yours, you barely had room to gasp. It couldn’t be heard anyway, not with the way her lips crushed into yours with blinding speed. 

It wasn’t going to be like the first time though, you weren’t going to give in that easy. You turned your head after a moment of her lips pressed to yours and took a deep breath before trying to protest.

“You’re with Will now!” You gasped out as you felt JJ’s lips meet your jaw line. 

“I never was,” she breathed against your skin. Your blood went cold at that, but you didn’t even have time to process before JJ’s hand snaked between the two of you and cupped your chin. With little effort, due to the shock of her words, she pulled your head back so your lips could meet hers again and all you could manage to do was let her kiss you. 

But some sense came back to you the moment you felt her teeth tug at your bottom lip. You pushed on her chest and tried to turn your head again, only able to mumble a weak, “I don’t understand…” against her lips. 

Her hold on your chin tightened, keeping you in place as she used her body weight to keep you still against the wall. “This has been torture,” JJ groaned against you. Her fingers clenched harder around your jaw as she dragged her lips across yours once again. “I can’t handle it anymore.” Her lips pressed firmly against yours this time and all you could do was whimper against her mouth. 

“I’m not with Will,” she continued to mumble breathlessly against your mouth. Your hands braced themselves on either side of her waist as she pressed you harder and harder against the wall. “You’re supposed to be mine,” she practically growled against your lips.

She was filling all your senses and your head was swimming. You were supposed to hate her, she left you. She hid you and then she got back with her ex, but here she was devouring your lips with her own. You weren’t supposed to swoon at the way she called you hers or melt when you felt her tongue dance against your own. But you couldn’t help it… she was all you ever wanted. 

Your body practically melted in her arms as her lips dragged themselves over yours before fully claiming your mouth in a searing kiss. The way her tongue swept over your lips until finally you parted yours had your head swimming. When you both heard and felt the groan that escaped her own mouth your whole body shuddered. You really shouldn’t be doing this, you knew that somewhere deep down in your mind. But every time her tongue ran against yours that thought got pushed back further and further until all that was left was just her. 

When one of her hands left from around your waist to tangle in your hair, you knew you were a goner. Her lips had left yours to attach themselves to your neck and you did nothing to stop it. The hand that had made its way to your hair was now tightened into a fist and she was pulling hard, making you tilt your head back so she could have more access to the most sensitive parts of your neck. All you could do was whine and squeeze your eyes shut as the overwhelming feeling of JJ’s tongue making its way down to your collarbone was driving you crazy. 

There was no way you were going to snap out of this. You knew that the aftermath of whatever was happening between the two of you in this moment would break you as soon as it was over, but you had missed her so much. If she was being driven crazy just because she saw you for two seconds with someone else, how did she think you felt? It was torture not having this with JJ anymore. You craved this. You needed it. 

But still there was that one voice. It was so small and distant now, but it was still telling you this was not a good idea. That you should push her away before this would hurt too much. JJ leaving you the first time had broken you and you’re barely putting the pieces back together. What happens if you break again? Will there be enough of you left to even salvage? 

It was the feeling of JJ’s teeth biting down hard into the most sensitive part of your neck that somehow finally broke you out of the trance you had fallen under. It was like someone dumped ice cold water on your system and your entire body went ridge. JJ was too focused on the feeling of having you in her arms and against her lips again to notice, though. 

She kept going, running her tongue over the angry red mark she had just left. Your hands were balled into fists again at either of her sides and if she noticed that you were trying to lean away from her, she didn’t seem to care.

“JJ, wait,” your voice was quiet and hoarse. If you could’ve you would’ve been more assertive, but your head was still swimming. Your hands pressed harder onto her sides, trying to keep her still while you pushed your own body away, but her grip was strong. One of her hands tightened in your hair and the other around your waist; the action made you wince. 

“Please, stop.” Your voice was a little louder now and you felt the reality of the last few moments settle in your stomach like a bowling ball. Thankfully, JJ finally took notice of this. Her body stilled and her head tilted back up with hooded, hungry eyes. For a split second you wanted to throw it all away, but that tiny voice had officially won.

“Why?” JJ was still holding onto you, but the hand in your hair had finally moved back to your waist. 

“JJ, I can’t handle this. I could barely handle sneaking around, I definitely can’t handle being your little secret again until you decide to leave and go play family. Or make me the other woman… or whatever is going on here.” 

“You’re not those things, you would never be those things.” JJ’s eyes said it all as she uttered that sentence. The pain in them had shown, but it just added to your confusion over this whole situation. You were torn between wanting to yell at her and comfort her all at the same time.

“Then what am I, JJ?” You needed to press this. She can’t just keep you from moving on, she can’t keep interjecting when someone shows slight interest. Either this all needed to stop for good or the both of you needed to finally figure things out. “What is it that you really want?”

“It’s…” JJ stood still, her hands still gripping your waist. The sound of the drip of the faucets nearby seemed deafening in the uncomfortable silence, but yet you waited. “You. I want you.” 

There was a pause and you took a deep, shaky breath to ground yourself. “What does that mean, JJ?” You whispered your question, afraid to get your hopes up. 

“That I want to do this for real. I’m done holding back,” JJ’s hand released you for a moment to brush hair from your face and tuck it behind your ear. “I’ll tell everyone, I’ll vow to never leave you again. I just can’t be without you anymore longer.” 

You searched her eyes for a moment and this time you could see the sincerity shining through them.

“Just tell me you’re mine,” JJ whispered as she pressed her forward to yours. “Just please, tell me you’re mine.” 

“I- I’m…” you took another deep breath, squeezing your eyes tight before tilting your head up so JJ would move hers down. “I’m yours,” you breathed with a soft kiss placed on her forehead. 

When JJ heard those words her hands moved once again to hold either side of your face, bringing your lips in for another searing kiss. But this time you were ready and you met her with as much passion. 

She kissed you like that for a while, her lips pressing completely against yours in a way that left you gasping for air against her mouth. After a moment JJ left your lips and kissed up your jaw. She made her way to your ear and leaned into you closer, her breath tickling as she took a moment to enjoy the way you were panting and shaking against her. “Can we get out of here?” JJ’s voice was filled with so much want as her teeth grazed your ear. You bit your lip to stop yourself from letting out an embarrassing whimper at the words you longed to hear once again, and nodded your response instead. 

——————- 

Getting into her place was messy. As soon as the Uber dropped you off, JJ’s lips, tongue, and teeth were all over you again. The way she was kissing you, you already knew you were a mess for her. 

As soon as she managed to get her front door open, she slammed it closed and then slammed you onto it, grinding her knee between your legs as she kissed you in a frenzy. At some point, the two of you had pulled off your shoes and she had scooped you up, still kissing you like crazy, as she walked the two of you to the bedroom. 

When she flung you onto the bed, with more excitement than grace, you didn’t even have time to react before she was on top of you, pulling at yours and her own clothes.

“Tonight,” JJ growled against lips, “you’re going to know that you belong to me alone, always.” You felt her hips roll against yours from where she had already gotten between your legs and you gasped at the sensation. 

“And you— you’re- oh god.” JJ’s teeth were sinking into your neck again and her hands already had your shirt and bra over your chest so her fingers could play with your nipples. It was making full sentences nearly impossible to get out. “Y-you’re mine.”

“All yours, princess,” JJ purred as her tongue and teeth moved down your neck and onto your chest. The second you felt her warm mouth close around your nipple, you couldn’t stop the pathetic whine that fell from your lips. You didn’t even notice that JJ had also managed to pull your shirt over your head, you were just so far gone in all the sensations she was giving you and she hadn’t even really started yet. 

JJ spent time paying attention to your breasts, alternating between your nipples with her lips and teeth while she continued to rock her thigh between your legs and encouraged you to grind on her. Things were building up fast too, you could feel yourself getting worked up and close to release, but you desperately wanted more. More of her touch, more of her hungry possessiveness, more of everything. 

It was like she read your mind though, because in an instant she was pulling away. You started to whine but then you felt her hands pull at your tight jeans and you were just relieved that it meant more direct contact with JJ where you needed her most. But then, once you were finally completely naked, JJ got off the bed. 

“Where are you going…” you trailed off as your eyes followed her to her night stand. You didn’t need an answer, as you watched her pull out a silk bag that outlined its contents quite obviously. JJ quickly removed the rest of her clothes before returning to the foot of the bed. 

“I got this a while ago for us,” JJ admitted as she pulled out what the bag was not-so-discreetly hiding. “But I was holding off on telling you, I was worried I would get too intense if we tried it, but…” JJ was back on the bed, kneeling between your legs, her hands on either of your knees. “I’m tired of holding back, aren’t you?”

You swallowed hard as your eyes zeroed in on what JJ’s hands were doing. With a pink, double-sided strap in her hands, she was spreading lube on both sides. You couldn’t help but notice how one side was quite larger than the other. 

“It vibrates by the way,” JJ’s wink was even visible in the dimly lit room. “Are you okay with this?”

You appreciated the check in, and yeah you were nervous for this, but you also had never wanted something more than this moment right now. “Yes,” you practically moaned the word in excited anticipation. 

“Good,” JJ gave you a smile more mischievous than you’ve ever seen it. And your eyes were still completely transfixed on the way her hands were lowering the toy down between her legs. “Let me just…” she trailed off as she took it inside herself and you watched in a trance as she shivered at the sensation. 

Then it was your turn. She readjusted your own legs, spreading you wider and you couldn’t help but feel yourself flush at how exposed you were. You also knew you were incredibly wet from her already. Even if she used lube, you didn’t think you needed it. Although, it was big, and the biggest you’ve ever taken before was just her three fingers… 

The toy lining up with your entrance is what woke you up from your thoughts and you gulped. JJ’s pupils were blown as she looked down at your naked body, your pussy dripping wet for her before she even entered you. And then, in a flash, she was all the way in. 

The way you both groaned at the sudden feeling spurred JJ on fast. She was immediately entranced by how good she felt while also being flush between your own thighs. “Doing okay?” JJ’s voice was strained, she was trying hard not to just start fucking you into the mattress. She needed the okay first. 

“Mm.. mhm,” was all you could manage, but you paired it with a nod. Your eyes were shut tight and you couldn’t stop yourself from rolling your own hips against JJ’s, desperate to feel her start moving. 

The toy was big, the way it stretched you out burned, but it was so fucking delicious in every way. Except, the moment you rolled your hips a second time that was all it took for JJ to break. She knew she wouldn’t be able to go slow with this toy, not when it felt good to actually feel you somewhat when you try to fuck yourself on the strap. She just didn’t know it would be this good. 

JJ’s grip on your legs tightened and she began to grind into you hard. Your head immediately fell back onto the bed when you felt JJ’s hips rock into your own. She was moving faster than you expected she would and it was all overwhelming. 

With the way JJ was moving, her whole body was now pressed against yours. Moans and desperate sighs came from above you and you couldn’t stop yourself from wrapping your arms around her neck and pulling her even tighter against you. Your hips moved in time with hers and the way you felt her shake in pleasure above you while you took every single pump of the toy into you was incredible. 

JJ’s hand came to your chin and she pulled your head back down until you were face to face, her body never slowing from the way it rutted into you. “Does it feel good?” JJ purred as she kept fucking into you with the strap, every pump pushing her end against the right spot for her. “Do you like what I’m doing to you, princess?” 

You moaned, your eyes squeezing shut tight as JJ pumped even harder in that moment. But JJ’s hand stayed on your chin, squeezing a little tighter than before. “Use your words,” she demanded as her thrusts got more powerful. 

“Yes!” You cried when JJ’s other hand moved to hook your own leg around her waist. “Fuck just— please just don’t stop.” 

“Good girl,” JJ groaned as she felt her own peak building. “Look at me.” 

It was a struggle to open your eyes but you did so just as JJ’s hand moved from your chin to your neck. “You’re mine,” JJ growled as she applied pressure. You groaned out a yes in agreement and JJ moaned as her hips continued to move frantically. 

“You’re mine,” she repeated, fucking into you with full force, “and you’re going to look at me when I make you cum.” Those words were what finally did it, you fell apart on her strap with a loud moan. Her hips never stopped their pace until finally you felt her whole body shudder above you. Her head fell into your neck and you felt the way she moaned and placed wet kisses to your bare skin. The way the orgasm hit JJ was just as powerful as yours and you both slowed for a moment. 

But that moment was short, because as JJ pressed her whole body weight on top of you, you felt her hips roll again and you whined at the sensitive sensation. 

“Shhh,” JJ soothed, “you’re going to give me one more.” 

“JJ I don’t know if-“ her hands were moving down your body, hoisting both your legs this time over her hips. You tried to finish your sentence but you couldn’t with the way she was slowly pumping the toy back into your already sensitive pussy. 

“We haven’t even tried all its features.” You didn’t comprehend what JJ meant until it was too late and she had you gasping in surprise. One of her hands had left your leg and moved down between the two of you. She had turned on the vibration and now, the pink, rather large strap on that was inside both of you was vibrating in a way that was causing your eyes to roll back into your head. 

“Oh my god,” you both said in unison, only your voice sounded like a garbled moan at the same time, while JJ just sounded breathlessly fascinated at the reaction it was pulling from you. 

“This is better than I ever dreamed it would be,” JJ purred as her hips restarted their rocking rhythm into you. The way the toy curved so the base of it hit JJ’s clit at the same time made her struggle with her staying steady and slow, but she knew you were sensitive and needed to be worked back up gently at first. 

With your legs hooked over her waist though, the strap was hitting even deeper than it had been when you first came and now that it was vibrating too, you swore you were seeing stars. 

“That’s it,” JJ whispered as she grabbed your hips and helped you fuck into her strap. “Keep moaning for me, baby, moan my name.” 

You didn’t even know you were doing that. You just couldn’t even control your body. All you could do was moan and whine as you let JJ fuck your into the mattress. 

Your whole body was shaking and JJ’s was too. Her pace was faster again and you knew it was a matter of time before you both came together again, but when JJ reached down and turned up the vibration you instantly fell apart in a show of moans and tears before she could cum with you. 

She didn’t stop there though, she didn’t even turn down the vibration as her hips started going harder. 

“J… JJ I can’t.” You were practically slurring your words, you could barely function with how many sensations were going on as JJ kept using your body to get herself off. 

“Shhh, one more baby one more,” JJ pleaded as she chased her own orgasm using your body. “I wanna cum again too.” 

You just nodded desperately, your eyes shut tight as JJ again pressed her naked body to yours and fucked the toy into the both of you. Her moans were getting louder and yours were matching as your nearly exhausted body was being brought to the edge for a third time. 

JJ hips were slamming hard into yours again, so hard you knew there would be bruises. And the grip she had on your hips was so tight you figured there would be nail marks left over too. But neither of you cared, because when JJ came on top of you again with a desperate moan you couldn’t help the cry that you let out as you felt your body release for a third time. 

And finally, finally after a brief moment, JJ moved to turn the vibration off. Your body jolted at the feeling of it finally stopping, but you couldn’t even pick up your own head to look as JJ slowly pulled the toy out from you and then her. 

“Holy shit,” JJ panted as she rolled off you and pulled your spent body to her chest. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” you said breathlessly. 

“Good… we’ll give it five minutes and then I want to taste you.” 

“What?!” You perked up at that. Your body was still shaking and you knew your thighs were covered in your own cum. If you came one more time you didn’t think you’d be able to walk tomorrow. 

“I told you,” JJ traced a finger across your jaw as you looked up at her with wide eyes. “I’m not holding back anymore. Tonight I will show you who you belong to and I’m not done showing you yet.”

You gulped as you looked at the resolve in her eyes. You knew there was no stopping this once JJ had decided to let go of control, but this is all you ever wanted. So, maybe another round… or even two… wouldn’t be so bad. At least you both had the day off tomorrow.

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[archivewriting]

Determined for you

Pairing: rafe x reader

Warnings: slightly toxic rafe, cursing

Summary: A situation occurs between you and Rafe where the subject of him relapsing is brought up.

You stared at the video replaying over and over on Ellas phone. Toppers private story on Snapchat named "pov we've fucked" and posted was a video of Rafe snorting lines of coke off a random table at a house party. Toppers voice is heard through the backround with other guys yelling and cheering Rafe. Your stomach flipped as you watched in horror. Yes Rafe didn't have the best reputation but he had sworn he was clean.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to show you because I overheard him telling you he was 5 months clean last week" Ella explained as she shut off her phone and looked up at you. She looked sorry for you and it made your stomach turn.

He lied.

It was no secret Rafe struggled with drugs and alcohol. But he swore he was clean when you almost broke things off with him the first time.

"Please baby I promise jus-just don't go" Rafe begged as you gathered your things.

"You said that last time Rafe. I just can't keep this cycle going"

Two weeks later and after 200 roses being sent each day to your front porch and numerous apology cards Rafe and you got back together under the condition that he was to stay clean.

"I don't even know what to say or do" you said as you gave Ella a small frown.

Your heart hurt. Rafe. Your Rafe was lying, and you weren't sure if he'd done it before you saw the video. Everything confused you and caused a headache to occur.

"If you need anything I'll be here for you" Ella says. You give her a small nod before getting up and heading out over to your car.

You sat in your car in silence trying to figure out what to do with the situation. Your head was aching the video of Rafe high out of his mind replaying over and over again. Your phone began to buzz, looking down you see many texts from Rafe.

Rafey🤍:

I miss you rn

Rafey🤍:

Wyd baby

Rafey🤍:

ur location says ur still at Ellas

Rafey🤍

giving her all your attention come over

Rafey🤍:

I'm abt to come over with Top in 5

Your eyes widen as you read his last message. In an attempt to quickly text back you hear a loud engine and music blaring to your right.

Fuck.

You look over and see Topper sitting in the passenger seat, Rafes figure barely noticeable in the drivers seat.

Topper stares at you through the passenger window smiling and waving at you. You give him a small laugh before shooting Ella a text.

Y/n:

was on my way to leave & rafe texted me he was on his way with topper now we're all here outside your house

Ella:

shit I didn't see topper texted me too

Y/n:

act casual don't even bring up the video

A knock on your window causes you to jump. It's Rafe giving you a grin. You smile sincerely before unlocking your car door stepping out as Rafe opens your door.

"Hey baby" Rafe says giving you a long kiss on your lips before wrapping his arm around you.

"Missed you" He said slyly pulling you closer to him.

Feeling awkward you give Rafe a smile before walking with him in silence. Topper ahead of you both.

You weren't walking in silence he was telling you about his day with Topper, they both headed up to the country club before he missed you.

Rafe could sense the tension coming from you. You were much more distant with him today than you ever have and he could tell by your quiet demeanor. You weren't being mute you just weren't talking as much. He figured you were having a bad day and didn't want to push you.

Which is why he didn't ask why you were outside in your car. He could tell by the moment you all entered Ella's house something was off.

Rafe was no idiot especially when it came to his girl. He sensed the way you'd stare off mid conversation. The way you looked down at your lap more than you looked at him.

Were you mad at him? He thought.

"Uh you know what, Ella could you just give Top a ride back home" Rafe asked blankly starting at you.

You were out of it especially when the three were talking you hardly spoke to Rafe never finding the courage to look at him. All the anger you felt had disappeared and disappointment settled in. The conversation brought you back from your thoughts. You looked up to see Ella shooting you a smile while Topper sat next to her oblivious about anything occurring, he was too busy gawking over Ella's side profile. But you could feel Rafes intense gaze onto you.

Rafe lied to you.

"Y/n's not feeling so well so figured I'd just take her home with me" Rafe said casually fully getting your attention. You finally looked over at him to see him staring at you. Rafe leaned in giving you a kiss on your cheek

"Come on baby, I'll take you home" Rafe said softly getting you up on your feet. Topper who was sitting next to Ella gave Rafe a small nod while Ella gave you a sincere smile. Mouthing "you'll be okay" to you on your way out.

Rafe held your bag while walking the both of you out. He held your hand and you held his back. He'd occasionally glance back at you to make sure you were okay.

"What about my car?" You asked Rafe looking at your car as he opened the passenger door for you.

"Don't worry about it I'll pick it up tomorrow" He said guiding you into the car and circling around to the drivers seat. His car smelled like him and it brought you comfort for a bit before reality set in.

Rafe had relapsed.

You gave him a nod as he sets into the drivers seat. Starting up his truck the hum of the engine and the sound of the AC turning on all at once.

"Alright what on your mind sweetheart" Rafe asked putting his hand on your leg as you stared out the car window. His hand rubs your leg softly before staying put on your thigh. He backs the car out of the driveway and begins driving on the road. Rafe reaches up from your leg to turn down the radio before resting his hand back on your leg.

You let a sigh before responding "nothing just tired" you said leaning your head up against the window.

"Come on, tell me I don't like you sad and shit" Rafe said rubbing his thumb along your thigh.

You held back from saying anything simply because he was driving. You didn't want an argument to occur in the car.

You decide not to respond just continuing to stare out the window.

Rafe glances over to you confused.

"Did I do something?" Rafe asks stopping the car at a red light.

You looked to him making eye contact for a brief moment before the light turns green.

"Come on baby you gotta tell me if I did something so I can fix it"

Your silence only angers Rafe.

"What you found a new guy you wanna fuck" He says scoffing.

"What no Rafe"

"Then what is, you're out here fucking ignoring me. You're being distant so what is it you found a new guy to fuck now" He spits harshly before pressing down on the gas pedal. The cars speed accelerates causing your heart to drop.

"Stop stop stop Rafe. Slow the damn car down Rafe" you pleaded as he only continued to speed. Sliding in between cars angry and frustrated with why you were being so closed off.

If Rafe hated anything it was people leaving. His mind jumped straight to the conclusion that you were trying to leave him and it irked him.

"Not stoppin till you tell me baby" Rafe said.

"You relapsed Rafe!!" You said finally getting the words out. Rafe slows the car back down slowly before pulling the car into a parking lot with numerous apartment homes around it.

"What"

"You relapsed Rafe I saw you!" You exclaimed keeping a distance between you and Rafe in the car.

"I have no idea what you're fuckin' talkin about" Rafe huffed. But he did know.

He knew damn well two nights ago while you were at home studying he was high out of his mind but he'd never tell you that.

"Toppers story Rafe. It's you snorting lines of coke!"

"Ella showed me the post Rafe I know what I saw" You said firmly.

Rafe lets out a scoff a laugh almost and it pisses you off.

"It's not funny Rafe you relapsed after telling me you were done"

Rafe stared at your face noticing the way you tensed. He knew if he told the truth he'd lose you. You were frowning upset with him and Rafe hated being the reason you were sad. So he came up with the first lie that came to his mind. He'd do anything to keep you.

"Baby, the video is from 7 months ago"

Your eyebrows furrowed.

Could it be? No..? Maybe?..

You didn't really check the time Topper posted the video too focused on watching Rafe snort lines of coke.

"Sweetheart I love you too much to take that risk with you" Rafe reassures pulling me to him. Rafe places you on his lap in the drivers seat. His arms wrapping around you as you stare at him.

"I don't know Rafe, it looked recent to me" you said looking to the side.

Rafe grabs your head holding your gaze between his hands, "Baby you trust me?" He asks.

You nod your head muttering a yea.

"Good because I'm telling you the truth. I'm clean I swear" Rafe reassures.

"The video is old, I almost lost you wouldn't want to lose you again"

Silence follows after his words. You were sure if Rafe was lying or telling the truth. You stared at him acknowledging his features the way he stared at you, admiring you. You tucked in your lower lip attempting to catch any signs of Rafe lying to you. He only held your gaze running his hands softly on your back.

"Okay" you said softly letting out a sigh.

"Yea? We're okay baby. I'm okay" He said hugging you.

You lay your head in his shoulder feeling Rafe press small kisses along your face.

Rafe pulls you away before gripping onto your face.

"Next time tell me when you're upset or confused alright?" He demanded and you nod.

"Good, because you're stuck with me forever alright" Rafe said moving his hands lower to your ass and pulling you closer.

"I just want you to be okay" You responded truthfully.

Rafes eyes look at you filled with love. How'd he get so lucky with you? He stared at the way you looked at him. You looked at him differently than others, you cared for him.

"I know and I'm okay when I have you"

"We only need each other" Rafe says pulling you into a harsh and desperate kiss.

You kiss him back relived the situation has been solved.

Eventually Rafe brought you over to his house. You laid in his bed sleeping after fucking in his car and his bed. You were sleeping in his shirt while his comforter covered your legs.

Rafe sat on his end of the bed shirtless pulling out his phone.

Rafe:

Take down your story rn

Rafe:

R u fucking slow top posting that shit allowing y/n to see

Top:

Fuck did she see?

Top:

Shes not in the private story

Top:

My fault dude

Rafe:

You almost cost me my relationship I will fuck you up Top if you pull that shit again

Top:

I know I know I'm sorry Rafe wasn't my intention

Rafe swiped out of his conversation with Topper before shooting Ella a text.

Rafe:

Don't appreciate you filling my girls head w bullshit so keep my name out ur dirty fucking mouth along with hers

Ella:

She deserved to know you relapsed Rafe

Rafe:

Wasn't your place to say so stay in ur fucking lane next time

Rafe:

You and I both know you're a sneaky bitch. Didn't think I'd figure out you envied my girl?

Rafe:

Leave my girl alone or I'll actually ruin ur fuckin' life

Ella left Rafe on read before Rafe blocked her number. He scoffed "stupid bitch" Rafe muttered under his breath.

He heard you shuffling behind him.

"Rafe?" You said tiredly

"Shhh I'm here go back to sleep" Rafe said getting into bed and kissing your head. You moved closer to him wrapping your arms around his torso before falling asleep.

One thing was clear. Rafe wasn't letting anyone get in between you two.

[bwabys-scenarios]

Hihi! Just wanted to say I absolutely LOVE your works esp the kurapika ones

Soo basically they take the reader out shopping specifically for undergarments and someone just so happens to walk in while they’re changing? Maybe w the phantom troupe + kurapika?

Panties and such(NSFW)

!!REPOSTS APPRECIATED!!

A/N: I’m going to assume you mean that the character walks in on reader, but if you meant a random person, sorry 😭🙏 also I’m only doing a two from the phantom troupe, doing all of them is just too much. I’ll do a part two if enough people want it, though! 🫡 REQUESTS OPEN! JOIN MY SERVER

characters: Kurapika, Chrollo, Feitan

warnings: creampie, reader wears lingerie, semi-public sex in Kurapika’s

NSFW: @lightshowerrr @jungtoast @nenggie @pannacottababy @aliceattheart @atransmuter

‼️If you want to be added to the taglist, please check out the taglist information then comment what you want to be added to! Make sure you have your age in your bio and that your blog can be tagged/mentioned!‼️

Kurapika

-you brought up the fact you wanted new panties, and he nodded along before processing what you said.

-“d-did you say… panties? As in… underwear?”

-a little flustered, but he insists on taking you, and paying for whatever you want.

-he brings you to a lingerie store, pouting when everyone assumes he’s a woman. that does work in his favor tho

-he keeps bringing you different sets of lingerie to try on, and he’s starting to get horny imagining you in each pair.

-eventually he pushes himself inside the dressing room, eyes going wide and cock hardening in his pants when he sees you pulling up a pair of lacy panties.

-he pushes them to the side, slipping his cock into you and pushing you up against the wall. “s-so pretty, angel…”

-you leave the store with several new sets of lingerie… some of them a bit… sticky…

Chrollo

-he’s the one that suggested it.

-“my love, it seems you don’t have much lingerie. You know how I’d just love to see you covered in lace, don’t you?”

-he takes you to the most well known, expensive lingerie store in the area.

-he’s a bit picky, and takes forever choosing what options for you to try on. He settled on mostly black lingerie, with a few pink and red sets… and one white one, with little angel wings on the top.

-Chrollo helps you into each set, his fingers gently tracing your figure. “Just gorgeous… oh my love, you look like an angel sent from above.”

-he’s quick to purchase every set you try on, and soon as you get home he’s on top of you, his teeth nipping at your jaw as his cock sinks into you.

-“that’s my pretty girl, so good for me…”

-he takes you out for dinner later that night, insisting you wear the lingerie he fucked you in. You spend the entire dinner feeling his cum oozing out of you, embarrassed as he stares at you with utter love and adoration.

Feitan

-“Bras? Don’t care about that. Steal it if want it.”

-that’s usually how it went when you asked Feitan to go shopping with you for anything. Either he’d say he didn’t care, or he’d offer to just steal it for you.

-so that’s how you ended up following him to the lingerie store in the middle of the night. He easily broke in, guiding you by the hand through the dark store until the two of you reached the lingerie.

-“okay. Pick your favorite.”

-you huffed at him, looking through the selection. “I’ve gotta try it on first…”

-you stripped, and this got Feitan excited enough… but he started stroking himself when you pulled on a pair of lacy panties.

-he continued to jerk off to you, until you caught him in the mirror.

-“F-Fei!”

-you blushed, but felt strangely flattered… “I’ll take care of it…”

-you sat in front of him, leaning down to take his cock in your mouth. “F-fuck…”

-seeing your pretty lips wrapped around his cock, your ass perched in the air was enough to have him cumming in no time.

-he helped carry home as many sets of lingerie as you wanted… maybe he liked seeing you like that more than he thought.

[slytherinshua]

ALL MY LOVE

genre. fluff. boyfriend headcanons. warnings. minghao dreams abt marriage and starting a family. not proofread and written while i'm sick and have half a braincell so i'm rly sorry if this is a mess. pairing. minghao x fem!reader. wc. 558. request. no. a/n. babe wake up slytherinshua is back skdjskd GOD IM SO HAPPY I WAS ABLE TO WRITE SOMETHING FINALLY 😭😭 thought this blog was literally gonna die cause writers block was so strong. also surprised it ended up being svt that broke through my block esp minghao but yk ill take it no complaints !!!!

boyfriend!minghao who’s a gentle, slow lover. he never rushes, but he also never leaves you with any doubt. he can read you like a book, and any concerns on your mind seem to be instantly resolved before you even have time to bring them up. he’s steady and true; your rock that you always know you can fall back on when things get tough. no matter what, he’ll always be there. he gives you a soft passionate type of love that you would never get tired of even after decades. 

boyfriend!minghao who’s always been ambitious. he has dozens of things he’d like to do and achieve, but he also knows how to take life slow and enjoy the present. he knows he has time to do everything he wants, and he reminds you that you also have plenty of time as well. sometimes you need that extra voice to tell you that it’s okay to take a break sometimes. it’s okay to breathe and think. no matter what, minghao will always be your biggest supporter— always rooting for you to strive and reach your goals, even if they are small.

boyfriend!minghao who helps you relax after a long day. warm tea and a massage are enough to put your mind and body at ease. his hands work like magic over your neck, shoulders, and back. it’s so good, in fact, that you feel guilty for not paying him for his service. he would never accept anything like that from you, though. once he’s done working out the knots for 20 minutes, he’d fall on top of you, giggling into the crook of your neck as he acts like your personal weighted blanket.

boyfriend!minghao who has a whole collection of couple items with you over the years. whether it be clothes, jewelry, or even mugs, everything he buys seems to come in a set of two. he can’t even imagine buying something for just himself anymore when you always seem to cross his mind whenever he spots something cute.

boyfriend!minghao who scolds you (but truly only out of love). his attention to detail and observant nature is both his strength and his flaw. he’s quick with his tongue— too quick— and will catch himself lecturing or correcting you when it wasn’t strictly needed. although it’s rare for his scolding to get on your nerves, as you know its a way he shows that he cares about you and loves you, it sometimes does. but he’s quick with his apologies as well, so no bickering between you two can ever last long. 

boyfriend!minghao who is so happy and secure in your relationship. he knows he’s found the one with you, and now that he’s been able to call you his for years, there’s no way he would ever be able to imagine his life without you. the overwhelming fondness he holds for you plants itself in his head and his heart and always has him thinking about your future together. he’d tell you randomly over tea how much he’s been thinking and dreaming about spending the rest of his life with you. whether it be big milestones like your wedding and starting a family, or smaller ones like waking up in each others arms each morning, he’s excited to experience it all with you.

↳ svt taglist (bolded could not be tagged): @kangtaehyunzzz,, @eternalgyu,, @ddeonudepressions,, @hannahsophie0103,, @minholing,,

@shuabby1994,, @icyminghao,, @98-0603,, @weird-bookworm,, @candewlsy,,

@wonwooz1,, @blossominghunnie,, @haecien,, @amara-mars,, @okshu,,

@parkjennykim,, @wootify,, @svtoose,, @seunghancore,, @ujisworld,,

@heavenfilm,, @sobun1est,, @bananabubble,, @talkingsaxy,, @thesunsfullmoon,,

@talking-saxy,, @nicholasluvbot,, @cupidslovearrows,, @50-husbands,, @hursheys,,

@gong-fourz,, @nonononranghaee,, @forever-atiny

[bullet-prooflove]

Oh I love a nsfw alphabet! And I've just finished the pitt and I'm having Langdon withdrawals already lol so perfect timing!

For Frank and Ivy, could I please request c, g, h, p and z ❤️

c = camera; who likes to send nudes to the others? have they ever made a sex tape - would they ever?

Ivy sends nudes to Frank but they’re not full on, it’s more like suggestive pictures. Frank has a massive kink for her in stockings. He loves the sight of them, running his hands up and down them, taking them off with his teeth so she tends to send images like:

 A photo of her from the back so he can see the seam line running up the her calves and thighs.

Slipping her nyloned feet into a pair of fuck me heels.

The lace tops against her bare thighs.

A video of her crossing her legs, because the sound of the stockings rubbing is like ASMR for his dick.

He gets anyone of these and he’s dropping whatever the fuck he’s doing and turning up.

They have never made a video together because Frank hates the idea of watching it back.

g = good; is praise something that’s used often? who does it have the biggest effect on?

Frank is still a little insecure esp in the aftermath of his addiction. He knows he fucked up majorly and praising him helps to build his confidence and sense of self-worth back up when it comes to their relationship. He craves that sense of validation and reassurance.

h = horny; who gets turned on the easiest/most often? how do they show it?

Frank is constantly turned on by Ivy and it can be the simplest things. Verbal sparring, catching a glimpse of her tattoos, the way she bites the end of the pen when she’s thinking. All of those things get his blood going.

If their alone, it’s by putting his hands on her waist and whispering something filthy in her ear. The press of his chest against her back, his lips chasing up the curve of her throat, nipping that little spot beneath her ear takes her zero to sixty.

p = place; where do they like to have sex? what’s a building/area that’s off limits for one reason or another?

Due to Frank’s ‘restrictions’  - in other words, the possibility of him losing his medical licence if he fucks up again, they keep bedroom antics in the house, usually at Ivy’s place. Ivy does not like staying over at Frank’s place because it gives her flashbacks to his OD. She found him in the bedroom and has not been in there since.

The hospital is completely off limits for the two of them. They’ve both seen some horrible shit in there, esp Ivy in her role as a SANE nurse, she can’t detach that from the hospital.

z = zealous; who’s most eager to please?

Frank will do absolutely anything for Ivy, especially if she’s in a pair of stockings. She doesn’t even have to ask, he’s already down on his knees, worshipping at her alter.

[pharawee]

I usually don't do yearly recaps because my memory sucks December is one of the busiest months for me and I'm lucky if I get to gif at all but this year I thought I'd take a look at all of the gifsets I did in 2024 and see which shows, pairings and moments I liked the most.

✨FAV BLS OF 2024

1000 Years Old: 2024 was supposed to be the year of vampire BL (going by all the announcements and pilot trailers) but in the end only this one aired (edit: wait, I forgot about OMG! Vampire to protect myself 🥴) - and it was neither spicy nor particularly spooky. Instead, it was all heart and quirkiness and when it was over I cried for a week because of the bittersweet ending.

Playboyy: This show is truly a masterpiece, with layers of subtext and social commentary. Also, it's fun and camp and sexy and ridiculous. I'm so glad it's going to get a second season.

Caged Again: How come that a little show about a penguin and a panther is legit one of the best - if not THE BEST - Thai BL of the year?

Knock Knock, Boys: I came for Best and Seng and Pak but then Almond and Latte bewitched me body and soul. Kongthup now owns me.

Every You, Every Me: I don't know what I was expecting (well, okay, a whole lot of Mick & Top - which is exactly what I got) but it surely wasn't crying my eyes out for two episodes right in the middle of the show.

Spare Me Your Mercy: Long awaited and currently still airing - I actually love this show a lot because it reminds me of all the detective dramas (esp Endeavour and Grantchester) I used to binge. Morse but make it queer is actually all I ever wanted.

7 Days Before Valentine: This show's depth and artistry and stageplay-like character absolutely blew me away.

I Saw You in My Dream: WeTV absolutely blew it out of the water this year with their many diverse productions, and this unassuming and charming little show with a supernatural twist (love me one of those!) was no exception.

Monster Next Door: Big Thanakorn in his first main role with his first acting partner in an extremely fun and all around lovely Kongthup/WeTV production. And I just love how nuanced it was when they could have just stuck with the whole introvert/extrovert cliché.

✨FAV PAIRINGS OF 2024

Hope x Save (Jack & Joker): These two completely took me by surprise, especially because I had such an intense reaction to Pee Phiravich's character in La Pluie. I had originally set my eyes on PromMark and while I definitely ate up their crumbs, HopeSave just checked all of my boxes: morally grey antagonists (at least for a while there), doomed by the narrative (until they actually got their happy ending, yay!) and ride and die for each other.

Pete x Kenta (Pit Babe): I'll be a PeteKenta truther until the day I die (see all of the checkboxes above), and if Change2561 didn't subscribe to the branded pair model, they'd agree with me. As things are I'm actually kind of meh about Pit Babe 2. I bet KentaKim won't have knives at each other's throats!! (PeteWay is delicious though.)

Prom x Nont (Playboyy): Uhhh, that's a lot of the same checked boxes. So maybe I have a type. Thanks 2024 for making me realise. Also, I hope these two make each other worse in season 2 (before they get their HEA because ultimately I'm vanilla like that).

Latte x Almond (Knock Knock, Boys!): Oh God, these two. I was prepared to be ride or die for Thanwa and Peak but then LatteAlmond barged in with a pink sex toy and it was over for me. They just have so much heart and so much sincerity between them (and while their dynamics are different in Caged Again I'm really enjoying Nokia and Jaonine there too for pretty much the same reason + their incredible comedic timing).

X x Namping (Every Me, Every You): It's probably a good thing we got these two for two episodes only because we might not have survived a whole 8 or 10 or even 12 episodes of them. Plus, the anthology-like character of the series made a sad ending possible in the first place, and I really appreciate it - even if it almost destroyed me.

✨FAV MOMENTS OF 2024

Twins: For a moment there we had FrameRyan and it was beautiful.

The Sign: Chalothorn stole the whole show for me and then when he inexplicably vanished I kind of stopped watching. Whoops.

Deep Night: I have seen the throuple light thanks to SeijiPanKen.

The Rebound: Frank Thanatsaran's acting (but also that scene...) overshadowing pretty much everything else (and now he's with Star Hunter which... you know... ehnnnn 🥲)

To Be Continued: Fluke Pongsapat and Junior Khajbhunditt starring in a way underrated 8-episode netflix show with one of the most beautiful love scenes ever, and I've been wanting more of them ever since.

Two Worlds: Kongthup giveth and Kongthup taketh away (aka for one and a half episodes I had Phupha and Khram and now I will never know peace).

Century of Love: Offroad Kantapon as a sultry fox spirit.

Sunset x Vibes: When Star Hunter remembered Fong and JJ exist and then they stole the whole entire show (there really wasn't much to steal though...).

The Sign: Whatever was going on between Heng Asavarid and Nat Sakdatorn in this scene BUT I NEED MORE (pls Idolfactory I'm begging you release Heng from his solo actor prison).

Two Worlds: Kongthup choosing violence by giving Pak and Mon one of the spiciest love scenes of the year.

The Rebound: THESE TWO (boxes checked!! But also I need more Nammon in my life).

Kidnap: GMMTV's strategic placement of Papang in a suit.

The Hidden Moon: Whenever that tiny low-budget show got surprisingly deep and artsy (and also spicy).

My Stand-In: When I watched a whole show for one (1) character that wasn't really a character at all. Oh, the tragedy of it all (and yes, I'm still scared of Ming).

Pit Babe: When I made several posts about the Pit Babe novel but then I actually ended up loving the villains more than the main characters. I'm watching Pit Babe 2 for them and them only. Winner of my heart here I come!

Aaand that's it, my first ever yearly (Thai) BL recap - which actually ended up way longer than planned (guess my memory isn't as bad as I thought. Then again, I had my gifs to fall back on).

2024 was an amazingly diverse year for Thai QL (along with the wonderful news of marriage equality in Thailand finally becoming a reality) and looking back I now realise (not that I was ever seriously worried) that gmmtv's monopoly is actually way more of a blessing than a curse because not only did it cause WeTV to heavily invest in their own productions, it also leaves more than enough room for innovation and creativity via smaller and indie companies (along with the truly big players finally paying more attention - see: Spare Me Your Mercy). Innovation which in turn enriches gmmtv's portfolio as well (judging by their line-up for 2025 the years to come). In short: the Thai BL ecosystem is truly thriving.

And with that, may 2025 be even queerer than 2024 with tons of marriage proposals and actual marriages (PorschArm here we go!), and a favourite little (or in gmmtv's case not so little lmao) BL niche for everyone.

I hope you had as much fun with BL in 2024 as I had. I really appreciate everyone's commentary posts and meta and fanart and gifsets and tag games and reaction posts, even if I didn't spend as much time on my dashboard this year as I wanted to. I'm so glad tumblr BL fandom exists. ILU guys. Only the bestest and kindest things for you in 2025!🌈✨

[onyxmilk]

Hello! Can you write about spy x family? (I'm obsessed with Loid) where OC is engaged to Loid/Twilight and becomes jealous of Yor.

Sorry, English is not my first language.

Twilight x gn!Reader; "Jealous"

notes; i love some twilight fanfiction, esp because everything is freaking SMUT (last time i checked)!!! we need some sfw ish in here!!! tw; Reader uses They/Them pronouns!, jealousy wc; 1.2k

Twilight and [CodeName] both got married on a whim for the benefits inside their spy company, neither did they expect to actually fall in love and want a proper marriage with each other, but they did! They were one of the cutest couples around, and when they worked together they were the absolute dream team. They would get the mission done and thensome, do some afterwork, clear the paperwork out, the two would go the extra mile to make sure no one had to clean up after them. 

When [CodeName] and Twilight renewed their vows because they ended up falling in love for more than mutual benefits, the two decided to go a little big. [CodeName] wore the most extravagant clothing, and Twilight wore a tailored suit to his liking. The couple held a huge after ceremony, inviting most of the company to join and celebrate their marriage. It may sound uncharacteristic for Twilight, but it was most definitely in character for [CodeName]. 

During the couple’s dance, as they were following tradition, [CodeName] leaned into Twilight and whispered “[YourName],” No explanation aside from a single name that left their lips. Twilight looked confused at first, but then it clicked- [CodeName] was dropping their real name. Twilight smiled warmly, bringing his partner in for a kiss. Twilight had long forgotten his name, but to know that [CodeName] entrusted him with such personal information brought warmth and joy to his heart. Especially on such a special night like this. 

[YourName] didn’t need to know Twilight’s real name, all they needed to know was that the man loved them and that he was accepting no matter what, which Twilight was. They just thought it would be a cute detail to drop on Twilight in the middle of, what the couple considers, their first real dance together as a ‘properly’ married couple. That night, [YourName] and Twilight got home, took off the over-the-top clothing, changed into pajamas, and shared a nice glass of red wine on the couch while watching some old TV shows that [YourName] enjoyed. 

It would be about three years later that [YourName] had to be put on a mission that placed them across the country. With a sadden face, [YourName] said their goodbyes to their husband and kissed Twilight one last time before them and a few other agents were shipped off. Twilight would be out of commission for about a day before he recovered, maybe he and [YourName] needed this split because the two of them were so dependent on each other. 

The two would always reference each other as partners for each other, and because the couple did work so well together and cleaned up after one another without needing a second thought, they did get paired up together what could be considered all the time. Now, sometimes [YourName] would be paired up with another person and other times Twilight would be paired up with a different person, and it never shattered each other. But being away from each other for months really took Twilight aback and he just needed a day to recuperate. 

During the few months that [YourName] was gone, Twilight was placed in charge of Operation Strix, which forced Twilight to find a wife and child. It had been quite some time since Twilight had to fake such an in depth relationship, and without [YourName] here to confirm that it was okay, or better yet have them play the role of his partner, he felt a little sick to his stomach. But a mission was a mission and it needed to be done. 

He wouldn’t get comfortable in his position, but he would get a better understanding of becoming a father in case he and [YourName] wanted children. Every day, when [YourName] was still out on their mission across the country and wasn’t here to call or see him in person at the hospital, Twilight thought about how different the mission would have been going if only [YourName] was around to assist as per usual. For some reason, he felt he’d be further in his investigation. Perhaps because they were truly married and didn’t have to put on some act for the world to see, or because perhaps the two of them have talked about a family before and this would just fill that hole temporarily. 

One day while at the hospital, looking over some papers, Twilight got a call that he was needed in the lobby. He had assumed that perhaps a patient was having a breakdown and needed some comfort from their doctor. Instead, nurses were welcoming a new nurse. “Loid!” His co-worker greeted as they walked over to him, “Have you seen the new nurse? Not to be unprofessional, but smoking hot,” The co-worker laughed but Twilight rolled his eyes while pretending to humor the thought, looking around for this new person. He didn’t expect to see [YourName], dressed in scrubs, holding a cup of juice, and laughing with a few of the other nurses. 

Twilight blinked a few times, a huge smile on his face when he made his way over. A few of the girl nurses giggled before shying away, while the guy nurses simply roamed off to allow Loid and [Name] to talk. “You’re back,” Twilight whispered, half shock and half relief flooding his face. “Mhm, and I’m assisting you on Strix. I’m a nanny on the side.” [YourName] replied in the same whispered tone. Twilight’s heart broke a little at the news, that was the last thing he wanted [YourName] to see; him acting as if he had a wife in front of other people. “I understand, are you caught up?” Twilight asks and with hesitation [YourName] nods their head. 

It would be a few days later that Loid brings up the idea of hiring a nanny to assist with Anya during the week. The nanny would come in the afternoon, help out with homework and study time, then head home around dinner. Yor of course thought the idea was wonderful and let Loid make a list of people, which most were fake just so they had no choice but to hire [YourName]. 

A few days later, it was a Saturday, Loid and Yor sat together on the couch while [YourName] sat on the chair across from them. Yor, to make their relationship look believable to the naked eye, wrapped her arm around Loid’s arm. It took everything in [YourName] not to break right then and there and claim Twilight as their own. They knew that this was for the mission, but unfortunately, jealousy doesn’t understand that. 

The interview went great and Yor agreed with Loid that [Name] should be hired, “Let me walk you to your car.” Loid offered. This was mostly so they could get alone time together before the night ended. “Do you enjoy a clingy wife?” [YourName] asked as they walked out the apartment complex, Twilight was taken aback before shaking his head with a small chuckle- he had never seen [YourName] jealous before and it was quite cute to witness. “No, darling, she simply wanted to sell what people think her and I have. I love you no matter what.” Twilight promised, opening the door for [YourName]. 

[YourName] nodded slowly, smiling eventually. “I want to kiss you so bad..” [YourName] says, “I know, one day soon, dear.” Twilight replied, allowing [YourName] to get into their car and he shut the door before stepping aside and watching [YourName] drive off to wherever they stayed for the night. Twilight hoped that they would stay at their home, so they could be around a familiar setting and smell familiar smells.

He wanted them to be comfortable, for [YourName] is his partner, and they are his.

[three-realms-archive]

Too Bright

Summary/Details: You celebrate Belphegor’s and Beelzebub’s birthdays, at different points in time. Slight, slight reference to Lesson 16. Angstyyyyyyy.

You chirp and squeal with glee, spinning to a song that sounds foreign to Belphegor’s ears. A song for him, you had said. A birthday gift, you had insisted.

“Dance with me, Belphie!” You laugh, clasping his hands, wrists colliding and clanging with the metal bars in a way that infuriated him. Were you mocking him? Were you relishing the fact that you were free to sway and twirl like a flower petals; not trapped in an attic, forgotten and rotting? Were you relishing in your freedom, looking down on him with the pride that only one who had gotten past his eldest brother could boast? Did you follow his voice, trudge your way up those stairs, just to gloat by singing and humming some unnecessary tune?

His tired gaze falls to the floor. A single cupcake sits on a saucer; a single candle sticking out of the icing on top. The candlelight it provides is bright - too bright for a pair of eyes that have only known dark and dust for too long - and he squints, looking away from the cupcake and back at your face.

It’s unfair. That same candlelight makes you look bright, too. Bright and beautiful, illuminating your smile with a glow that tempted him to reach out beyond the bars of his prison and -

No.

The Avatar of Sloth lets his arms go limp, straining something resembling a smile. It’s enough to convince you, though - and you go back to dancing, holding him so close that he can feel the warmth of your cheek on his.

Disgusting humans. With you none the wiser, he squeezes his eyes shut, to envelope himself in the darkness that embraces him in the attic when you’re not around. It’s a darkness that’s familiar… a darkness where, if he squeezes just enough, he can see her. His sister is there, in the darkness, and she helps him to remember.

Humans are the most dangerous form of temptation.

And he won’t make his sister’s mistake.

_

You chirp and squeal with glee, spinning to a song that has Belphegor wide awake.

Through open, alert eyes, he watches his twin brother lift you up by the waist with ease, and you both twirl under the gentle glow of the ballroom chandelier.

The cupcake you had made for Beel has long been devoured (candle and all, to no one’s surprise), and the Avatar of Gluttony’s sheer size mean that you both are bathed in the glow of the ornate chandelier above you in the centre of the room, laughing happily as you dance to a song once meant for him.

It wasn’t fair, Belphegor wants to think, watching as Beel indulged and indulged in the temptation of loving you. It wasn’t fair, he wants to think, hearing the birthday song which he had never paid attention to until it was no longer his name you sang. It wasn’t fair that he never let himself eat your cupcake.

He watches the two people he cherishes most waltz together, arm-in-arm and hand-in-hand, from a lone sofa in the corner. Around you, your friends and family gather around to join in the festivities; bunching up until the only view he has of your dance is through the tiny, narrowing slot of space between a content Lucifer and a cheering Lord Diavolo. It narrows - and narrows… and the last thing he sees is Beel pull you in by the waist for a deep, loving kiss.

Belphegor smiles bitterly, watching you hum against his brother’s lips. You look too bright, and too beautiful.

He squints, looking away from your face. The bright lights must be making his eyes tear up.

(y’all i just gotta accept that writing angst comes easiest to me, and idk if that’s a problem 😭. i hope y’all are doing good, though - esp with all the obey me news as of recent, such as the new content stopping. if anyone has any theories of what’s coming next, or anything they’d like to see in om’s future, feel free to share!)

[g3ths3man3]

Sleep Token HC: Fall Festivities [ III ]

I’m back with some super short n sweet wholesome fluff HCs for the eepy boys. A stroke of inspo esp after talking to @inv3ga about what the boys would be for halloween 👹

III loves to do as much as he can during the fall time!!!

Haunted houses, hikes during peak leaf season, apple picking, pumpkin patches, bonfires, Halloween parties, fall markets, handing out candy to trick or treaters—he wants to do it all

And more importantly he wants to do it all with YOU

But most importantly—to show off his impressive fall wardrobe!!

You can’t convince me this man wouldn’t have an arsenal of some sick ass fits he’s curated for this time of the year?

The jackets, hoodies, layers of different prints and textures, doc martens, loafers, fuck it I see a pair of Uggs in the lineup too? III in a beanie?? A functional scarf to elevate a plain chilly day outfit? C’mon

Will definitely hold you on his shoulders so you can get the nicest shiny apple high up in the tree, just to admire how proud you look being able to snag it

And to tease you for being too short to grab it

Coming home with a shit ton of apples, donuts, pastries, and regretting it

“Should we hand out apples for Halloween this year?” He pondered to you, hands on his hips. Knowing he was not a baker of any sort, and he did not actually eat them

Has to carve pumpkins, determined to do the most complicated design. Creating utter chaos in your house. Pumpkin chunks and guts everywhere, covering you, the table, counters

“We’re painting pumpkins next year instead.” You glare playfully at him once you were done and assessed the aftermath.

“Sure we are, babe.” He wipes a stray seed from your cheek, pressing a sweet innocent kiss to your lips

I see him being a big beetlejuice guy. That becomes an annual comfort movie for him and part of his personality for the entire month of October

He forces you to lay on the couch and watch it with him, trapping you with his oversized lanky body to the the sofa, even when you know he’s going to fall asleep within the first hour

Dying his hair an electric green and everything going all out

He goes as him for Halloween with you being bride Lydia or Beetlejuice too? Him in a pin striped suit I’m feral

He’s so into matching and coordinating with you in general, so ofc he loves matching costumes

If there’s a competition at a party you two are attending for best couples costume—he’s going all in—he can’t have Sam and his plus one win like last year again!

They’re usually basic, not super thoughtful or witty, but you two are so cute anyway!

Would be the bf to get you a boo basket, especially if he hadn’t had the time to do enough things with you like he planned

Fills it with all your favorite candies and snacks, but is sure to include a shit ton of cheesy stuff too like gummy eyeballs, candy corn, and pumpkins. Your favorite beverages, a new warm blanket, candles, and trinkets of your special interests

Ofc topped with a corny filthy pickup line as the note

“I’m not a cannibal but I would like to eat you later.”

[fort-of-novelty]

For a very long time I've excluded psionic stuff from my fantasy worldbuilding. I could just never elegantly fit psionics into the cosmology of my world. When you already have arcane, divine, and druidic magic, elementals, necromancy, infernal magic, the stars, the moon, the sun, and God knows what else, it get pretty cramped. And for me, psionics is always the first thing I drop when i am given the traditional worldbuilidng template.

But I watched a 1981 film that has changed my mind on that. Scanners.

I'm sure there's lots of bad things you can say about the film as a whole. Its acting is a bit stilted, and its pacing is a bit painful, sure. But there's this innocuous scene in the middle of the movie that has inspired a new approach for psychic individuals in my worldbuilding.

So Scanners follows the story of titular esp/telekinetic mutants as they're caught in a power struggle between two secret factions. Whatever.

Because of the ESP powers of Scanners, they are constantly hearing distorted, fragmented voices in their head. This disability makes it difficult for them to function in neurotypical society.

BUT! There's a scene where we watch a small group of Scanners connect their minds and speak to each other in a meditative state. And when they do, they're at peace.

So when Scanners meet other Scanners, they can tune their nervous systems together in a form of collaborative meditation. And when they do, they begin to attain harmony. But the more Scanners that join them, the more of their individuality they surrender to a new, collective identity. And to most Scanners, this is a pretty good deal, as their individual selves struggle to function in the outside world.

And sure, I know that psionics and collaborative brains are already often paired in fantasy settings. But most of the time, they're characterized as parasitic. They evoke themes of mind control or manipulation.

And while the Scanners can do those things, the purpose for their collaborative bonding is purely eusocial. It's to get relief from the pain they normally experience. It's to feel at peace. To be happy for once.

Remember, Scanners was made in 1981! An era where in the United States, anything communal or eusocial was associated with Soviet Russia and the evil red communism. But despite that, Scanners is one of the first times I've seen a film offer up a beneficial reason for eusocial psionics that doesn't inherently benefit some singular being at the top (i.e. elder brain). And that's so refreshing! And kind of empowering too.

I'm not sure if my point was AT ALL made clear in this little essay of sorts, but my point is that the above presentation of psychic powers in fiction has inspired me reintroducing psionics into my future worldbuilding.

[engardeitsme]

The Hunted, Haunted and Forgotten - Part 12

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Pairing: Battle Maniac x fem!Reader

Word count: 15k

Summary: The tale of the "Barren Swamp Treasure Hunt" finally comes to a close after you meet a celebrity, get caught in a storm so bad you actually consider spending more time alone with Matteo, almost get hit by a mountain, and then definitely get hit by a tidal wave of emotions you never thought possible.

A/N: yes. you read that right. it's 15k words lmaooo i was thisss close to splitting it up again ngl (esp bc i'm always scared to overwhelm ppl with bigger chapters sksks) but now i'm glad i didn't bc, as much fun as the barren swamp arc was,, i'm ready to move on lol. so yeah, BIGASS CHAPTER AHEAD WOOO I HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!!

and as always, special shoutout to @asayamas who was the lovely beta-reader for this monster of a chapter lol. ty for all the feedback and idea bouncing and helping me babysit our stinky wabbits in between chapters, you're the besttt🤲🐰💖💖💖

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Part 12 - Blessing in disguise and all that

"Let me guess", you said in a monotone voice as you reached the scarf wearer. "We have to climb that. Even though we could just go through the tower and follow the path on the other side. You know. Like normal people?"

"You wanna take on the hordes of Puppets down there, be my guest."

You put your hands on your hips. "Orrr how about we try and sneak past them for once?? Don't always have to be all guns blazing- swords blazing."

"We?" Matteo snorted, and you immediately rolled your eyes, knowing exactly what he was about to say. "We won't be doing anything. No, you stay in the background from now on. I don't wanna piggyback you the rest of the way because you slipped on the smallest of puddles and broke your leg."

Your mouth fell open as he turned his back to you and looked up at the stone wall. "You...!! You are the worst, you know that?!"

Admittedly, not your best comeback... But still better than stamping your foot in frustration. Which had actually been your next thought...

The Rabbit made an amused sound. "You couldn't handle me at my worst."

"Of course I could!", you snapped back. "That's basically all the ti-!"

You broke off as he held out his hand. At first you considered just ignoring him and sitting on the ground in silent protest. You were tired of always being the one who had to give in. Why couldn't he try to be the bigger person for once, huh??

In the end, however, you just gave an annoyed huff and let him pull you close again. This time he could take his bloody hug and shove it, though...

You stiffened as he wrapped his arm around your waist, trying to keep any physical contact to a minimum - which made the grappling hook ride surprisingly short. As soon as you reached the top, you immediately pulled away and put some distance between you again.

Then you turned around and let your gaze wander over the vastness of the swamp below... until it landed on an area to your right, at the foot of the watchtower. Most of the terrain was once again covered in the stinking green sludge. The rest consisted of small islands of garbage or sickly-looking earth covered in dead grass. Here and there a tree grew, gray and withered. But the real eye-catchers were the two gigantic "Puppets of the Future" slowly making their rounds through all this.

You shuddered at the sight of these monstrous machines and the two huge wrecking balls they had at the end of their arms instead of hands. Before the Frenzy, they had been used to move whole mountains of scrap metal; you didn't even want to imagine what they were counting to their current tasks...

And were suddenly quite grateful after all that you had chosen this route - even if you would rather throw yourself off the cliff than let Matteo know.

You were torn from your thoughts by another flock of crows screeching overhead. They were circling one of the cranes as the two of you moved to the opposite edge of the cliff and began your descent. It was easier than expected; the stone here grew in layers, which meant that you could simply drop down step by step, taking some of the weight off your shoulder. Halfway down you encountered a Puppet dog. It was one of those that could create explosions, an ability that had been used to move heavy loads out of the way. Now it was sitting patiently on a ledge, probably waiting to ambush any unwary travelers on the path below. Which... was probably less common these days, but the Puppet continued to hold its ground. At least until Matteo dropped down directly above it and plunged his sword through its body.

A little later, you were standing on said path at the foot of the rock face. To the right it wound down, to the left steeply up. You chose the latter.

The rock on either side reached so high that it was like walking through a canyon. A thin stream of water, caused by all the rain, made its way downhill and made you walk closer to the wall so you wouldn't accidentally slip.

And break a leg, you thought sourly, before squinting at the Rabbit, who hadn't said a single word since the grappling hook ride. Not that you were particularly keen on talking to him, oh no, you certainly weren't. In that respect, his silence suited you just fine. And yet it also irritated you, like everything about the guy was irritating you at this point. Because although he had never been a man of many words, you couldn't help but feel that this time he was only this quiet to get back at you...

Once again, you mourned Vito's absence. While the big Rabbit was hardly a chatterbox himself, somehow his mere presence helped to make the silence not quite so... silent. And a lot less tense.

It briefly crossed your mind that the whole thing might just be your imagination, triggered by your ever-increasing annoyance with the scarf wearer, but then your attention was diverted as the path opened up to reveal - in a surprising turn of events!! - yet another suspension bridge.

And suddenly you knew exactly where you were. After all, the two of you could admire your former workplace from here.

Beneath the bridge was a path that led to the right deeper into the swamp and to the left to a collection of gray brick buildings, dilapidated and with broken windows. Heaps of junk were piled up in front of them, blocking the rusty steps that went to the upper floors, a path you had walked countless times. You felt strange at the sight; it was as if you had suddenly taken a step back in time...

Beyond the broken corrugated iron roofs, you could vaguely make out part of the tram station at the back of the buildings, the only publicly accessible connection between the Barren Swamp and Krat City. You could still remember all too well what it was like to step through the tram's folding doors onto the platform each morning. To be enveloped in a mixture of morning mist, swamp gases and whatever was being emitted by thousands upon thousands of rotting Puppet parts.

At least you and your colleagues were issued with "work clothes". Although none of you were under the illusion that the cloth mask and thin gloves offered much protection, you didn't dare work without them. Most of you already donned your masks on the tram before the first breath of swamp air had even reached you.

It was still a mystery to you why they hadn't also used Puppets for this kind of work. Perhaps they had thought it a little too macabre to have Puppets dismembering other Puppets... But be that as it may, it would never have occurred to you to complain. The work might have been unpleasant, yes, but it had also meant a steady paycheck. And you would always prefer that to turning to crime or selling your body...

While you were lost in thought, Matteo had already crossed the bridge and was now turning to you on the other side. "You coming?"

You winced slightly. "Hm? Ah, uh... yes. Yes, I'm coming", you said before stepping onto the wooden slats as well.

However, you didn't even make it halfway before you caught movement out of the corner of your eye and suddenly spotted a Furnace Puppet trotting along the path below, belching fiery smoke and swinging its massive shovel. You immediately stopped and swallowed hard, but fortunately the Puppet didn't seem to notice you, so after a few endless seconds you dared to slowly move on. Still, your eyes remained glued to the guy until you finally reached the other side and felt safer again.

At least for a moment.

"Mr. Rabbit! What an, ahem... unexpected surprise!"

In the blink of an eye, Matteo had drawn his sword again and was pointing it at the stranger.

A few steps away, next to a burning barrel, stood another animal mask-wearing Stalker. You wondered where the rumor came from that most of them had disappeared; you'd already met two new ones in just one day!

"And here I was, believing me to be the only living organism around!", the Stalker laughed, before nodding in the direction of Matteo's weapon and adding in an almost conversational tone: "Do you mind? We're all reasonable adults here, are we not?"

"You tell me", the Rabbit simply replied, not moving an inch.

Meanwhile, you took a closer look at the stranger. He was wearing a dog mask fastened with rope - and at first glance, it looked so realistic that you shuddered. Your second glance fell on the weapons he carried on his back, which were so long that they extended beyond his head. You counted a sword, a lance and what looked like... a pickaxe? Maybe? Apart from that, he was dressed in the typical Stalker's garb of dark gloves, sturdy boots and a long, brown leather coat over a simple shirt and pants combo. The sleeves of the coat were shortened, revealing his bandaged arms underneath.

You were just wondering if he had hurt himself, or if that was just for a little extra protection, when you noticed a fleeting glint on his chest... And when you saw what it was that was reflecting the scant daylight, you couldn't help but gasp with excitement: "You are... You are Alidoro, right? Alidoro the Hound??"

Immediately, Matteo's head jerked in your direction, but you were so focused on the Stalker in front of you that you didn't notice.

The Dog Stalker reverently touched the badge on his chest, a small pair of golden wings, before exclaiming: "That I am! Alidoro, treasure hunter extraordinaire! At your humble service." He made a small bow. "I must say, what a tremendous joy it is to meet yet another survivor of this disaster - and a fan to boot! To whom, may I ask, do I owe this pleasure, Miss...?"

You opened your mouth, but before you could answer, Matteo took a threatening step forward and hissed: "Tell me why I shouldn't cut your head off your shoulders, 'Hound'."

Your eyes darted from one to the other in surprise. There was no question that this wasn't their first meeting. And apparently they hadn't parted on the best of terms last time... which didn't surprise you one bit. After all, the Rabbits were still petty criminals, while Alidoro was, well, the exact opposite. A hero of the little people! Who always helped where it was needed, whether there was a reward or not. So it was no wonder, really, that the two didn't like each other very much.

"Now, now", Alidoro chuckled, "I know our last encounter wasn't exactly... pleasant, but surely that's water under the bridge now, isn't it? ...No? Oh, well, that's a bummer."

"We had an agreement", Matteo said darkly.

Your counterpart sighed loudly and put his hands on his hips. "May I remind you that this 'agreement' was that I would stay away from your territory? It's news to me that the Brotherhood now even claims the swamp as their own."

It was certainly no accident that he sounded as if he were explaining the world to an obtuse little child. And Matteo must have felt much the same, for by now he had tensed every muscle in his body and seemed about ready to lunge at the other man. For the first time, it occurred to you that this had the potential to get pretty ugly... If there was anyone who could take on a Black Rabbit, it was probably the infamous "Hound of Krat", but you could definitely do without a demonstration...

"Then again", he continued, just as you had turned to Matteo to try and calm him down a bit, "I hear that business has been going through the roof lately, so it's only logical that you would want to expand. And quite tempting, I'm sure. Especially if you're looking into acquiring some lovely new faces for your staff..."

As soon as he finished, Matteo suddenly moved forward, so fast that you didn't even have time to react - but in the end your fears were unfounded, as he simply stepped between you and the Hound and growled: "The deal was that you wouldn't get in our way again, mutt."

Alidoro remained unimpressed and spread out his arms. "And how, pray tell, am I in anyone's way here? Huh? All I'm doing is enjoying this beautiful day with a little walk in the great outdoors! Begs the question..." He tilted his head. "What are you doing here?"

"None of your business."

"I beg your pardon", Alidoro huffed. "That was a sincere and genuinely interested question! But if the good sir doesn't feel like answering, perhaps his lovely companion is in the mood for a little chat...?"

"No, she's no-"

"You're going for a walk?", you interrupted the Rabbit, raising an eyebrow in doubt. "Here? In the Barren Swamp?"

"Are you accusing me of lying?? Why, that's simply preposterous!"

Immediately, your heart sank and you quickly opened your mouth to apologize...

But then he suddenly chuckled and added: "...and oh so astute! My, what a clever little cookie you are! Utterly enchanting. Yes yes, you are right of course, I'm not just here for a walk. Please excuse the secrecy, force of habit. Unfortunately, you can't be too careful who you confide in these days. Especially when it comes to something so, well..." He coughed. "...delicate. For, you see, I'm actually here because I... well... because... I'm looking for more survivors of the disaster! Yes, that is what I am here to do. I know the chances of some poor sod still drawing breath out here are pretty slim, but... Well, you should never give up hope, is what I always like to say! Not even in the darkest hour!"

You clasped your hands in delight. Until now, the wary part of you had always believed that the stories about him were exaggerated and that he wasn't even half as great as they made him out to be. Especially after a certain wanted poster had made the rounds, accusing him of all sorts of things that sounded nothing like Alidoro, the "Hero of Krat"... But to hear him talk like that now immediately put all those doubts to rest. This Alidoro was exactly as people had always described him: daring, selfless and incredibly brave. Like a true hero! The poster must have been some kind of vendetta by someone who had had a bone to pick with him...

"That's... that's amazing!", you finally exclaimed. Then you quickly walked around Matteo and stood directly in front of Alidoro, looking up at him with bright, shining eyes. "Especially with all the dangerous Puppets around!"

He nodded solemnly. "Yes, that is very true. What I'm doing is certainly not for the faint-hearted, there's danger around every corner! But...!!" He raised his chin proudly. "As a descendant of the city's most aristocratic families - the very best families, mind you - I have a duty to the common people. Repaying debts is what we nobles do. I live my life fulfilling that duty, and part of that is to ensure the safety of anyone in need of help, whatever the cost. Even if it is my own life..."

At that, Matteo let out a soft snort, but not soft enough, for the Dog Stalker soon turned his head in his direction and added, a little miffed: "Some may regard self-sacrifice with cynicism and contempt, but to this hound there is no greater honour! And..." He turned his attention back to you and gently took your hand. "I can sense the same noble spirit in you, young lady. Say, what was your name again...?"

"Oh, it's-"

But you got no further. Because suddenly you felt yourself being grabbed and pulled backwards, just as Matteo announced: "We're leaving."

He started to drag you along - only a few steps, however, until you managed to come to your senses again and tore yourself away from him. "Hey, wha- Let go of me!", you shouted angrily. "What is wrong with you?!"

You had no idea what had gotten into him all of a sudden. But whatever it was, and whatever had happened in the past between the two former Stalkers, it didn't give him the right to decide how you should behave now!

There was silence for a moment, and all you could hear was the whistling of the wind and the soft pattering of the rain, which had regained some of its intensity during your conversation.

Then Alidoro suddenly laughed out loud. "Oh-ho, I see! So that's the way the wind is blowing! Well, I should have known, but I just thought to myself: 'Surely they aren't planning to... Surely not in the swamp!' Though, at the end of the day..." He snorted in amusement. "Who am I to judge, eh? After all, even I had my fair share of thrill rides, back in the good old days. As such, I suppose I do see the appeal of this, er... special ambience."

You started frowning halfway through his little monologue, and even after he finished you still had no clue what he was talking about.

But before you could verbally express your confusion, he continued: "Thus, I believe an apology is in order!" Again he dipped into an elegant bow. "Please excuse my unseemly behaviour. I have a bit of a... penchant, I guess you could say, to forget myself when I'm in the presence of a pretty lady, hehe... Believe me, it was never my intention to cause trouble in paradise."

As soon as his last words reached your ears and you finally realized what the Hound was alluding to, your jaw dropped. Quickly you waved him off, stuttering: "O-oh, no, this isn't-"

Just as Matteo said: "We're not-"

You both fell silent and looked at each other. Shortly thereafter, you heard Alidoro laugh again, and your face grew warmer still (if that was even possible).

"Ahh, to be young again", the Dog Stalker sighed. "So full of love, full of life... Yes, even the darkest nights never once diminished my lust for life... Oh, but look at me; going on and on, even though you're obviously in a bit of a hurry, aren't you?" (You imagined him winking at you.) "I won't keep you any longer then. How about we just forget this conversation ever happened and you just carry on doing... what you were doing. Besides, I'm sure it won't be long before we meet again, Mr. Rabbit! Although hopefully under, ahem..." He cleared his throat, clearly very amused. "...less heated circumstances. Until then: 'Remember this Hound when Golden Wings shine'! Farewell, you two, and enjoy your alone time!"

He raised a hand in goodbye and, without waiting for a response, promptly turned and strolled off towards the bridge, chuckles in tow.

You couldn't help but stare after him with your mouth hanging open. Only when he was out of sight did you turn and blink at the scarf wearer, still completely flabbergasted. "Did he just imply..."

"He ran his old mouth again, that's what he did", Matteo simply said, before sheathing his sword and following the path. "About time someone put a muzzle on that self-absorbed prick. He may have been useful once, but now he's nothing but a nuisance on two legs..."

However, you didn't really listen to him. Your thoughts were still revolving around: "Alidoro the Hound... The Hound, the 'Guardian of Krat'! I still can't believe that just happened... I mean, that's gotta be the biggest coincidence ever! Running into him out here, of all places!"

"Coincidence? More like bad luck", Matteo grumbled.

"He's exactly how I imagined him, it's crazy!", you continued excitedly, ignoring his remark. "I used to think that people were just exaggerating and embellishing things, but turns out-"

"He's even more annoying?"

Finally, you gave the Rabbit an exasperated look. "Oh, come on. Even you have to admit that the stories about him are incredible. He's a legend! Rumour has it that he's even tangled with the Alchemists! And then there was that thing with the big fire a few years ago", you counted on your fingers, "when he fought his way through a literal sea of flames in search of survivors! Not to mention, of course, him saving all those lives when the Workshop Tower fell and he-"

"Was just one of several dozen rescuers on the scene", Matteo interrupted while suddenly picking up his pace so that you had trouble keeping up. "So could you stop singing this guy's praises? He's an opportunistic fraud, nothing more."

"What? No he's not, he helps people!", you exclaimed indignantly.

The Rabbit scoffed. "Helps relieve them of their money perhaps. Believe me, I know him. He's a conman. He only masquerades as this hero type figure and uses his reputation as a cover to trick people into giving him what he wants. Of which you and your little crush are a prime example, really."

You stopped walking, outraged, ready to refute his every word. But in the end, all you managed to come up with was a sputtered: "Cru- Wha- I don't have a crush!!"

A humorless laugh. "Yeah. Sure."

You were speechless yet again. Then you narrowed your eyes and hurried after him with strong strides. "But then again", you finally said, voice challenging, "What does it concern you who I have a crush on, huh? That's my business and mine alone!"

"Oh, I don't care who you're keen on."

"Uh-huh, sounds like it." The corners of your mouth twitched as you were suddenly struck by a very delicious thought. "And not at all like someone's a little jealous of the success and popularity of a competing Stalker..."

For a brief moment, it seemed as if you had caught him off guard, which only added to your amusement - but you should have known better, really. If there was one thing that was as sure as night follows day, it was that it was next to impossible to get under this Rabbit's skin.

And so, the next moment, Matteo just snorted loudly and replied: "You wish. No, it's just that the embarrassment I feel for you is slowly getting to the point where it's causing me physical pain."

Your smile vanished in an instant. "Oh, fuck off!"

The fact that it had only taken those few words from him to change your state of mind from amused to seething with rage was just another testament to how incompatible you were. Once again you wondered how you could ever have felt anything for this man other than annoyance and utter contempt. Every time this happened, your brain must have partially shut down, you couldn't explain it any other way. Like this morning, when you were actually worried about him. Worried, ha! If he turned out to be terminally ill after all, you wouldn't shed a single tear for him, oh no, not anymore. He was an unapologetic jerk at best, an obnoxious asshole at worst, and you were frankly sick of it.

"You know what?", you hissed. "Even if everything you said about Alidoro was true, I'd still rather be with him than willingly spend a single second alone with you!"

With that, it was you now who quickened the pace and took the lead, not even waiting for a reaction from him. He could swan dive off a cliff for all you cared!

In keeping with your mood, the next moment a bolt of lightning flashed across the dark sky, followed by the rumble of thunder. The rain had also drastically increased in intensity, now whipping across your masked face, accompanied by the howling of the wind. But even that didn't affect you in the slightest; your mood was already so bad that it couldn't have gotten worse even if it was raining Puppets.

You turned right onto a steep path with tracks running down the middle. In the past they had been used to transport Puppet parts deeper into the swamp - now they were nothing more than a tripping hazard. But your footing was secure, after all you knew this area fairly well. At the top, you rounded a minecart that was parked here, then turned your head to the right, where one of the massive watchtowers loomed above. However, your gaze lingered only briefly on the stone maw of the building and the motionless darkness within before you made a sharp left turn, heading instead for an open wooden shed.

"Back left under the floorboards, back left under the floorboards...", you muttered as you stepped under the wooden roof. Your gaze wandered over broken barrels and crates, torn out wooden slats and-

"Did you find it?"

You rolled your eyes, but otherwise ignored the Rabbit and continued your search. Eventually, you climbed over a pile of rubble until you found yourself in the far left corner of the dilapidated building, where you crouched down. Immediately, your gloved fingers went to work, knocking on the wood beneath you. The poor lighting back here didn't exactly help your progress, nor did the roar of the storm outside, so you soon found yourself crouching even lower, your ear to the ground, listening for the slightest indication that...

And then you heard it: a faint, hollow sound beneath your knuckles. Your heart skipped a beat as you searched for a notch in the wood, something you could grab onto so you could get to the space beneath the floorboards. A few minutes (and another annoying inquiry from Mr. Jackass) later, you had finally done it and reached into the small hole in front of you...

Only to pause again, slightly perplexed, as your fingers closed around a metal object. It didn't weigh much and was shaped like a... cylinder? You could feel intricate details running all around it, indentations in the surface... Until you suddenly startled when your hand passed over the top (or bottom) of the cylinder, and over something very pointy sticking out of it.

You frowned. What the hell...?

"You still alive back there?", Matteo's voice brought you back to the here and now.

Your gaze flickered in his direction for a moment before you awkwardly pulled yourself to your feet. "Yeah, I'm... I'm coming," you replied, the strange discovery making you momentarily forget your resolution to punish the Rabbit with silence.

He had also stepped under the roof by now, which meant that you had to huddle together due to the confined space as you finally presented him with the "treasure". Here in the light, you could see that your description had been rather accurate; it was indeed a bronze-coloured, slightly dented metal cylinder. Definitely not what you had expected from this treasure hunt...

"That's all there was back there. Seems to be some kind of... coil. A mechanical component...? I've never seen anything like it before, maybe-"

"It's a bloody 'Cryptic Vessel'", the Rabbit almost spat, "that's what it is."

You looked at his masked face in surprise. "A 'Cryptic'... what?"

"A storage device. Very popular with the upper class for storing important documents and small valuables because only the manufacturer and the owner knew the code to open it. Been a while since I saw one of these - a real one, I mean. The market was full of knock-offs that were a lot easier to crack." Your fingers brushed briefly as he took the object from your hand to inspect it up close. Then he dropped it back into your open palm and added dryly: "But unfortunately for us, this seems like the real deal."

"Ohh... So the treasure's inside then?" It certainly wasn't intentional, but his words awakened a faint glimmer of hope in you. You had already considered the mission a failure. After all, even the most expensive component wasn't worth a penny these days. But then something dawned on you that crushed your new-found hope in one fell swoop. "But if only the manufacturer and the owner know how to open it, then..."

"Doesn't matter, as long as you have the right tools. But it takes time, and that's what's annoying about it. You can't just go at it with a hammer, or you'll activate the self-destruct and risk destroying everything. No, this will take a couple days. At least." You were sure that if it wasn't for his mask, he'd be ruffling his hair now. But as it was, the Rabbit just put his hands on his hips and turned his head towards the rain before uttering a soft curse. "Just when the broker decides to make a fuss..."

You bit your lip. While you had no idea what that last mumbled sentence meant, it sounded anything but good, and you couldn't help but feel partly responsible. "I'm sorry, I... I didn't know."

For a little while, no one said anything, and all you could hear was the pattering of the rain, the roar of the wind and the occasional rumble of thunder.

Then Matteo suddenly exhaled loudly and said: "No, fuck it. Let's just go. We got what we came for."

You were still chewing on your lower lip when you stepped out into the rain again and walked back the way you came. You hated that you still felt the need to apologize. And to Matteo no less! Ugh... But you rationalized that this whole thing would probably affect the other Rabbits as well, and suddenly your guilt felt all the more justified.

Even though none of it was really your fault! How could you have known that there was a... a "Cryptic Vessel", or whatever Matteo had called it, buried here?? You just hoped that the contents were satisfactory. Otherwise, you would feel really really bad...

It seemed that the storm had reached its peak by now. The wind-swept rain was so heavy that even with your mask on you couldn't see five steps ahead and kept squinting your eyes. Not to mention your soaked clothes, which clung to your body like a second skin and made you chatter your teeth with every step you took. Every step, getting heavier and heavier the longer you braved the storm... Not for the first time, you wished you had taken shelter in the watchtower. The thought of having to spend an indefinite amount of time alone with the scarf wearer didn't sound too thrilling either of course, but it would have still been better than being swept away out here.

It seemed like an eternity before you finally reached the small suspension bridge where you had met Alidoro earlier. It swayed dangerously as you shimmied across (luckily, the Cryptic Vessel fit just so into your jacket pocket, so you had both hands free to hold on to the railing), and more than once you feared slipping on the wet wood and falling off - but three almost-heart attacks later, you were back on solid ground.

However, your relief didn't last very long. For no sooner did you reach the spot where you had climbed over the rocks and encountered the Puppet dog than Matteo suddenly announced in a loud voice: "My grappling hook is useless in this wind, we have to find shelter somewhere!"

Your temple twitched. Couldn't you have thought of that when we were still standing right in front of the watchtower?!

Instead of saying that out loud, however, you just shouted: "Then let's go back to the buildings!"

It was the closest and therefore best option you could think of.

So of course the Rabbit immediately shook his head. "There's a cave down there!"

You followed his outstretched arm and looked skeptically at the hairpin bends that ran down the slope until they disappeared behind some more rocks. But well, he ought to know... He seemed to have been here before, while you had never ventured this far into the swamp. So, in the end, you did your best to swallow your annoyance before nodding your okay.

You walked shoulder to shoulder to avoid any unpleasant surprises, but the descent was relatively uneventful. Once Matteo had to pull you out of the way of a giant bear trap because you were momentarily distracted by a crane directly above you, its wire ropes swinging wildly in the wind. Another time, you encountered two Worker Puppets, but because they also had limited vision due to the heavy rain, they weren't much of a threat. Though other than that, you made good progress and reached the bottom sooner than expected.

Where you immediately grimaced as you promptly stepped into ankle-high swamp water again. You quickly took a step back onto dry land - just as Matteo walked past you, pointing to a vague rock formation on the other side of the poison lake.

Great...

You sighed loudly, but then resigned yourself to your fate and followed him...

Before something launched itself out of the water and straight at the Rabbit.

You heard him utter a short curse as you staggered backwards, and then quickly scanned for the attacker, which soon turned out to be a Crawlie; apparently the storm had stirred up the water so much, that the Puppet had been able to approach unnoticed and actually achieve the impossible: surprise Matteo. At least for a brief moment, before he had already skewered its skull with his sword. Naturally. However, the expected respite never came.

For then the water suddenly became turbulent again and another Crawlie jumped out. And then another, and another... It was as if you had stepped on some kind of underwater nest. A chill ran down your spine at the thought of what else might be lurking in the dark waves, unseen until you were close enough for it to...

You decided not to finish that thought and instead dashed forward as fast as you could, your gaze fixed on the fighting Rabbit. By now, his sword was whirling through the air almost non-stop, spraying water in all directions, but that didn't mean he was struggling, oh no, on the contrary: despite the difficult weather conditions and the fact that he couldn't see his opponents until they shot out of the water towards him, he was dispatching them one after the other with playful ease. The problem was, however, that there was no end to them. Wave after wave approached, coming at you from all directions, as if answering a call that only they could hear.

The reason why you were currently waving your arms and screaming your head off to get Matteo's attention, but only succeeded when you were practically right behind him. He turned around in an instant, sword raised, but immediately lowered it again when he recognized you.

You didn't hesitate for long, quickly grabbing his arm and moving your masked face close to his ear before shouting: "This will go on forever! Let's go to the cave, I don't think they'll follow us, not all of them!"

For a moment, it looked like he was going to argue. After all, it wasn't like him to run away from a fight, especially when Puppets were involved...

But then he suddenly grabbed your arm and pulled you along without a word. From time to time he had to swing his sword when one of the Crawlies got too close, and once you had to dodge a minecart that had materialized right in front of you through the thick veil of rain. Nevertheless, you were moving much faster than the Puppets, so your prediction was right on the money, and you had already shaken off a substantial amount before you even reached the cave entrance. Only a few particularly stubborn ones had followed you this far, but you quickly got rid of them too. And this time you were even able to help, as it was much easier to take them out when they had to crawl onto land where you were waiting with your knife raised.

After you had killed the last one, you stayed in attack mode for a few more seconds, your eyes glued to the swamp in front of you. But when all remained quiet, you finally let your shoulders drop and exhaled in relief. Soon after, your gaze fell on one of the dead Crawlies in front of you, and you couldn't help but grimace. They were really too disgusting...

Without further ado, you kicked it back into the lake before raising your head to the rainy sky and musing: "You'd think there'd be no water left by now..."

Getting no answer, you turned around. After a brief moment of confusion, you finally spotted Matteo's red scarf a little further inside, where he was standing next to a rock behind which the cave made a sharp bend. Already you started to move, but then the Rabbit turned and came back.

"We're alone", he finally said when he was only a few paces away. "At least for now. Not far beyond that bend there, the cave opens outside again, so we have to keep watch in both directions."

You sighed. "I hope we won't be stuck here for too long... I would really rather not."

Matteo didn't respond, but instead went to examine an old fire pit next to a broken tent; apparently you weren't the first to rest here.

"Think you can get it to work again?", you asked, rubbing your upper arms as you looked back towards the cave entrance. It seemed even colder in here than outside in the rain... "If we have to live in each other's pockets from now on, it would at least be nice not to have to freeze your arse o-"

"Why don't you just ask your lapdog to come and warm you up."

You froze. Then you slowly turned around and looked at the Rabbit, who was now crouching in front of the fire pit and had his back to you. "You can't be serious." When there was only silence again, you couldn't help but scoff in disbelief. "You're insufferable, you know that."

He let out a quiet snort. "And you're so trusting it borders on naivety."

For a moment you just stared at him with your mouth open. Then you crossed your arms again - a pose that was in particularly high demand today. "Why, because I refuse to assume that everyone has bad intentions??"

"No, because you refuse - against all logic, might I add - to accept that the guy is bad news. Like I told you."

"If you call it naive not to think, as you do, that everyone in the world is bad and selfish, then I'm happy to be naive", you proclaimed, raising your chin defiantly.

"See what I mean."

Another bright bolt of lightning flashed across the dark sky, bathing the inside of the cave in a dramatic play of light and shadow. The rumble of thunder that followed rattled your eardrums and was still ringing in your ears seconds later when you finally shook your head and said: "I'm glad these damn treasure hunts will be over soon. I can really do without infecting myself with whatever it is you have."

With that, you were just about to demonstratively turn your back on him now...

"Shit- Get away from there!!", Matteo suddenly shouted.

...when you suddenly found yourself face to face with a Puppet.

And not just any Puppet. This one towered over you by several heads, forcing you to crane your neck to stare at its expressionless face - and at the wires sticking out of its open skull like little black antennae. For a brief moment it flashed through your mind that this must be a decommissioned Constable Puppet... Then it raised its arm, and your eyes immediately fell on its dangerous-looking weapon, an electrified club with a cluster of spikes at the end.

Before it already swung down on you and all you could do was open your mouth to let out a terrified scream...

Just as you were knocked over by something slamming into your side.

You heard the Puppet's weapon whiz past your head before crashing into the cave wall with a loud WHAM. Then the hard impact on the ground crushed the air from your lungs and you found yourself buried under a warm body as the world around you seemed to collapse like a house of cards.

For the next few minutes you were only aware of the hard stone beneath you, Matteo above you, and the deafening rumble and crash around you, mingling with your racing heartbeat. You had made yourself as small as possible and kept your eyes tightly shut, even though Matteo's body completely shielded you from the chaos surrounding you. Every time you felt him tense his muscles and the arms around your head tighten their embrace, you expected the worst.

But miraculously, the two of you were spared the falling rocks, and could eventually breathe a sigh of relief when the world stopped shaking and silence returned.

Still, Matteo decided to play it safe and let another minute pass before he pushed himself off the ground and, hovering above you, asked in a hoarse voice: "Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah, I... yeah", you breathed out.

"You sure?"

You cleared your throat so that your voice didn't shake as much. "I think so... Thanks."

The Rabbit made a short sound of acknowledgment, and then pulled away from you completely. As soon as his weight was gone, you tried to get up as well and- promptly hit your head on the rock above. Apparently, the ceiling was now a little bit lower than before... You stifled a groan and rubbed the sore spot as you stared into total darkness. At first you wondered if you had even opened your eyes at all. But after blinking a few times, you finally had the terrifying certainty.

Oh-oh...

You swallowed hard. Then you felt around your immediate surroundings (mumbling a quick "Oh, sorry!" as your fingers briefly brushed over warm fabric), hoping that this would at least give you some orientation. At first you felt nothing but stone and dusty earth. But after crawling around a bit, your fingertips suddenly brushed against a smooth, cold surface...

Before you jerked back in shock when there was a crackling sound and then a blue-white surge of electricity lit up the darkness. It had only lasted a moment, but that had been enough to reveal the full extent of your situation - and confirm your worst fears.

You licked over your trembling lips and slowly turned away from the Constable Puppet, which lay motionless, half buried under the rock. There was still small stars dancing in front of your eyes, thanks to the sudden flash of light, as you stared in the direction you assumed Matteo to be, and finally said in a thin voice: "I... think we're trapped in here."

Your words were followed by silence. Then, all of sudden, you heard the rustle of clothing as Matteo started moving through the small space as well, feeling his way along the rock face just as you did. Wordlessly, accompanied only by the steady sound of his breathing. For the first time you wished he would say something, no matter how annoying it might be... It would at least offer you a distraction from the ice-cold panic slowly making its way through your veins.

Eventually, the Rabbit paused somewhere to your left and, from the sounds of it, went to work on one of the cave walls. It probably wasn't a bad idea to try and dig your way out, but after a little while you still found yourself furrowing your eyebrows as you continued to listen into the darkness; somehow you couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right here...

And then the cave began to shake again, and you heard the loud rumbling of stone.

From Matteo's direction.

In an instant, your heart stopped before it began to beat twice fast, and you rushed forward, towards the Rabbit. Arms outstretched to feel for him in the darkness, mouth open to gasp his name... Until your fingers finally found the stiff fabric of his leather jacket and-

Lost it again when he pushed past you and, soon after, got to work on the opposite wall.

For a moment, you could do nothing but blink in surprised confusion, hands still raised, as that unnerving feeling hit you again... Only this time you realized why: Instead of his usual methodical and deliberate approach, the Rabbit's movements seemed almost erratic, frantic even, while his breathing came in quick, choppy bursts now.

You were just about to frown again, when suddenly there was another quake, showering you in dust once more - and finally making up your mind for you.

"Matteo- Matteo, stop!", you exclaimed, moving towards him again. "What are you doing?! You'll bring the whole cave down!"

He tried to shake your hand off his arm before saying, a little breathlessly: "No, we... we have to get out of here... The oxygen won't last forever, and then... We need..."

Now you were definitely worried. You had never ever heard him lose his words like that before. Just what was going on with him?? A few minutes ago he'd been his usual self!

"...Yes. I know", you said slowly, trying to make your voice sound as self-assured as possible and swallow your own panic - panic at your terrible situation of course, but also at the Rabbit's frankly bizarre behavior. "But if you keep this up, keep going without a plan, the rest of the cave will fall on our heads too! And then we'll have a real problem!"

At first you thought he hadn't heard you, or was just ignoring you, as usual. But eventually you felt the muscles under your hand relax before his arm fell away again as he sat back on the ground. Then you just remained in silence for a while, his rattling breath mingling with the wild drumming of your heart.

You nibbled at your lower lip. It was a complete mystery to you what had suddenly gotten into him, let alone how to deal with it. He seemed like a different person; gone was the calm and collected Rabbit jackass. Who was rarely rattled by anything and always kept a cool head. In his place was now a man who seemed completely beside himself, so much so that you hardly recognized him. Your first thought was claustrophobia, but-

"We're done for."

Your mouth fell open. "What do you m-"

"This is it. We'll never get out of here alive", he continued, the strangely distant undertone in his voice really making you feel like he hadn't heard you at all this time. "The walls are too unstable, if... if we start digging from in here, we'll bury ourselves alive, and no one will dig from the outside because no one knows we're fucking stuck here, so if we don't suffocate, then-"

"Hey! Heyheyhey, that's not true", you quickly interrupted his torrent of words and slid closer. For a brief moment, your hand hovered over the spot where you suspected one of his legs to be... but then you lowered it again. You had a vague feeling that this would only make him more upset.

"It is. And it's all my fault, I didn't pay enough attention, I didn't-"

"Well, I think if anyone's to blame here, it's the Puppet", you chuckled, but immediately became serious again when you realized that this was probably not the best reaction. Quickly, you added: "Besides, I wasn't exactly paying attention either, so..."

"No. No, this is different, I should... I should be the one protecting you. A-and I didn't, and now you're... I hurt you, again, I-"

You shook your head vehemently until you remembered that he couldn't see you in the dark. "But you didn't! Nobody got hurt, we're fine! And you'll see, we'll soon come up with a plan that-"

"Plan? What plan?!", the Rabbit suddenly snapped, making you jump. "There is no plan! No, it's just like back then, if no one comes save us, then... Fuck, we're stuck here and it's all my fault again. It's my fault that... my fault that you... my fault... my..."

Once again he seemed a million miles away, munbling the same words over and over. Sometimes you could make out others, like "tower" or "Stalker" or the names of the other Rabbits. But mostly it was just him blaming himself for your misery.

Until his breathing suddenly got faster again. A lot faster.

And to say that you were freaking out would be an understatement.

You knew what this was by now, recognized the signs. They were, after all, very familiar to you. So familiar, in fact, that you almost thought you could feel them yourself now: the racing heartbeat, the tightness in your chest, the gasping for breath... The feeling of losing control of your own body as it slowly closed in on you, all that dread, all that fear and terror...

You quickly blinked away the wetness in your eyes and exhaled shakily. Your experience was mainly based on helping yourself through such an episode, but this procedure couldn't be all that different from person to person, right?

Right...?

You took a deep breath.

"Matteo? Can you... can you hear me? Hey. Hey, listen to me. Listen to my voice. You hear my voice?" You nervously passed your tongue over your lips, waiting for a reaction. When there was none, you swallowed and, simply hoping for the best, continued: "If you can hear me, try to follow my voice and do as I say, okay? Okay. Try and... concentrate on your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths. Just like I do."

You breathed in and out loudly. Your first attempt wasn't ideal, you were also pretty on edge, after all. So you just carried on with the demonstration and tried to calm yourself down too while doing so.

Every time you exhaled, you paused to listen for Matteo, but couldn't tell a difference. On the contrary, it sounded like his condition was getting worse even. Apparently, there were indeed differences in how people dealt with these situations...

Fuck, what do I do... What do I do?!

Never before had you felt so helpless. Fear bubbled up inside you and wrapped its icy fist around your heart. You felt as if you were running out of air, just as Matteo had predicted, even though you knew that was just your imagination and wouldn't happen any time soon. Nevertheless, the familiar panic made you bite your lip again, so hard that you tasted blood. For a moment, the pain broke through the disorienting fog in your head...

Just long enough for you to suddenly remember something from a few weeks ago, something Massimo had told you:

"...You see, Matteo's developed this... habit. Back when this whole shitshow started and we lost the HQ and he was... Well, I'll spare you the details, but believe me, it wasn't pretty and really messed him up. To the point that every time someone he cares about is in danger now, he just freaks out until he's made sure they're all right..."

You lost your breath for a moment - and then made a decision. A decision that could backfire completely, you were only too aware of that... But frankly, you were out of options.

And it's definitely worth a try, you thought before focusing your attention on the Rabbit in front of you again.

Who seemed to have taken off his mask in the meantime, at least judging by the gasps for air that sounded much clearer now. Thinking back to your last episode and how much your own mask had bothered you, it was understandable.

Without further ado, you followed suit and undid the clasps at the back of your head. After all, you were only wearing it as an alibi anyway. And with what you had planned, it was better for Matteo to hear your voice as clearly as possible.

Your hand trembled as you slowly reached out and made your way across the ground until you touched leather. You knew from experience that this was not without risk; you yourself were pretty touch averse when you found yourself in a similar state. You had learned that when poor Leonora had found you cowering in a back alley once. Back then, all it took was a little tap on the shoulder to send you into a tailspin for a good hour.

So you were well aware that this required a great deal of sensitivity, and were all the more careful now as you gently ran your fingers down the Rabbit's right arm until you reached his gloved hand. Your heart skipped a beat when your fingers touched, though you took the fact that he didn't pull away as a positive sign.

Meanwhile, you had already thought of what to say. "Hey, you feel that...? That's me, my hand. I'm here, Matteo, I'm right here. You're not alone and... and I'm not leaving you, okay? Because you did nothing wrong! This is not your fault, you hear me?" You gave his hand a reassuring squeeze to emphasize your words. "I'm not hurt! You didn't hurt me, you protected me even, remember? When the cave collapsed? And before that, when the Puppet almost..."

You trailed off and pricked up your ears. At first you thought you had only imagined it, but no; his breathing had definitely slowed. Minimally, barely noticeable... But it was still a huge success, because it meant that your plan was working. He could hear you, he was actually listening. You were definitely on the right track.

The thought made your heart beat faster - and you promptly decided to go one step further even.

You gently released his hand from your grasp and removed your gloves. Then you slid even closer to the Rabbit, so close that your legs touched and you could feel the warmth radiating from his body. Your own breathing grew a little labored as you repeated the previous action on him, slowly peeling the stiff leather from his right hand, finger by finger. In constant expectation that he would pull away, that in the end it would prove to be a mistake after all, that it would only make things worse... But he let it happen, or maybe he hadn't noticed.

What followed, however, he noticed without a doubt. Because as soon as you touched the clammy skin of his hand, you felt a shudder run through his body. It made you pause for a few heartbeats before your fingers moved on and soon slipped under his again, clasping them tightly. Your thumb stroked the scarred back of his hand in gentle motions as you picked up where you left off, reassuring him again. That he was safe, that he wasn't alone. That you were all right, that everything would be all right...

Until suddenly you felt his fingers twitch and then give the tiniest of squeezes back. Immediately, a wave of relief washed over you. And when you noticed that he had begun to take deep, deliberate breaths, just as you had explained to him earlier, your heart seemed to overflow with joy.

"Yes, that's it, just breathe. In..." You took another deep breath and then exhaled loudly. "...and out. In... and out. Slowly, just like that, yeah. It's going to be okay, I promise, I... I got you. I got you."

You had a vague feeling that you would feel a little sheepish afterwards, about all the things your relief made you mumble into the darkness. But at the same time, you couldn't care less.

Especially when the darkness mumbled back: "...you... okay...?"

In an instant, your mouth twisted into a smile. "Y-yeah", you said. And then, in a burst of... whatever, you took his hand and pulled it towards you, pressing it against your neck, right on top of your fluttering pulse. "I'm okay." You closed your eyes and slumped your shoulders, tension slowly leaving your body. "I'm okay..."

So you stayed for a while, just enjoying the moment and the sensation of Matteo's cool palm on your heated skin as your heart rate slowly returned to normal.

Until the Rabbit suddenly went rigid and tried to free his hand from your grip, bringing you abruptly back to your senses. Of course, you instantly let go of him before straightening up, your cheeks aflame.

"I can't, I..."

You shook your head quickly, an awkward laugh on your lips. "Ah, no, it's... it's fine! I'm sorry, I wasn't really... thinking, I guess."

"...just don't wanna hurt you again."

Immediately, you stopped.

Then you furrowed your brow before starting: "But you... didn't. You didn't hurt me, you..." Only to break off as you finally realized.

That was it? The reason why he'd been acting so weird all day? Why he'd always bolted as soon as he'd gotten close to you, touched you? He was afraid of hurting you...? But why??

It didn't take long for you to remember the last time the two of you had been alone, back in the Town Hall, in Giulia's room. And the guilt-ridden look he had given you before storming out of the room, right after...

But that was so long ago. Had he really been... for so long...?

Without giving it much thought, you reached out and grabbed his hand again, so quickly that Matteo didn't even have time to protest. "You didn't. Hurt me", you then repeated firmly. "How about you get that through your thick skull already??"

When he still wouldn't listen, you gripped his hand even tighter. "Matteo- Teo, listen to me. Listen to me. I want this, okay? I want you to touch me."

Perhaps it was his name that finally made him stop and contemplate your words. Perhaps it was just your shameless honesty, which, admittedly, surprised even yourself. But whatever it was, he suddenly stopped struggling and sat very still as you added in a whisper:

"So touch me."

What followed was a silence as absolute as the darkness that surrounded you.

It lasted so long that you grew restless, doubt creeping in... When, all of sudden, a soft exhale reached your ear, so faint that at first you thought you had imagined it.

But then you felt Matteo's hand give beneath yours, his fingers slowly relaxing, melting into the curve of your neck. It sent a shiver down your spine. Especially when, after a little while, he splayed his thumb and let the rough fingertip wander along your jawline. Mapping it, tracing an invisible trail up to your cheek. A touch like a bird's feather, gentle, careful... a little shaky. As if you were made of particularly fragile glass and he was afraid you would shatter at the slightest pressure.

The fact that you couldn't see any of this only heightened the sensation, and you let out a silent gasp when he finally cupped the side of your face and cradled it in cozy warmth. Automatically, you leaned into the touch and placed your hand over his again, over the scarred skin, your fingers resting in between his own like matching puzzle pieces.

You didn't know what this was exactly, had no idea where it would lead you... but that was okay. Because at the same time it felt so right, so true, that you didn't feel the need to explore this feeling. No, all you wanted now was to stay in this moment a little longer, here, with him, and-

Suddenly his hand slipped from your cheek and he slumped forward.

"Wha-?!" Your eyes widened in alarm as you felt his weight tipping you backwards, and quickly grabbed his upper body to support him, already fearing the worst, already thinking he was-

Then an arm snaked around your back and a soft mop of hair pressed against your shoulder before all tension left his body in one big sigh.

And your head grew so hot it seemed about to explode.

It was as if you sensed everything at once in the next few seconds: You smelled his familiar scent, felt the stiff leather of his jacket and the soft fabric of his scarf under your fingers, the steady rise and fall of his chest that reached your ear as even breaths... But above all, you felt the gentle pressure of his hand on your back and his strong arm hugging you close, further into the warmth of his body.

You only hoped that the thick fabric of your own jacket would hide how wildly your heart was beating...

"Moe told you. About what happened in the Workshop Tower", the Rabbit murmured into your shoulder the next moment.

It took a few more seconds for you to calm down enough to trust your own voice again. "N-no. No, he didn't. He just... vaguely hinted. But I can put two and two together, you know." The corners of your mouth twitched into a small smile. "Especially when I'm forced to listen to you two argue about it."

He scoffed, but otherwise remained silent.

Your smile faded. "Besides, I know what a panic attack looks like. We're... pretty well acquainted by now, you might say."

"Because of your father", he said simply.

"Yeah..." Again you received no response, which you took as an invitation to continue. "I... I know how this sounds, but sometimes I think I... see him? In the bodies lying on the side of the road, or leaning against a wall... Always dead. Always there to remind me that I..." Now it was your turn to sigh. "That I didn't do enough. Let him die in the Frenzy."

"You said your father was called to Rosa Isabelle Street. There was nothing you could've done for him, that place was hell on earth back then, even for us."

"No, I know", you laughed, "believe me, I know. Or, well, at least I do when I'm in my right mind, but... sometimes it just sneaks up on you anyway, you know? And then you can try to rationalise it all you want, doesn't matter. Especially when you're alone. When everything's dark... It's worst at night." You paused as a thought suddenly popped into your head. "...Is that why you don't sleep? Because you're afraid of nightmares, too?"

No sooner had you finished speaking than you got the strong feeling that you had overstepped the mark and wished you could take it all back. A wish that grew exponentially the longer the following silence lasted.

When you couldn't stand it any longer, you hastily added: "Ah! Sorry, that was... Please, just pretend I didn't say anything, you don't have to-"

"No, it's not that. I'm not afraid of nightmares, I'm..."

You stared into the darkness, waiting with bated breath for him to continue.

"I can't have them stop", he finally said firmly. "They... remind me of what's important. Keep the memories alive."

It briefly occured to you that this could very well be the first time he had shared this with anyone. Ever. Been that vulnerable. After all, not even his siblings seemed to know. Your stomach fluttered at the thought before you cautiously pressed on: "Of Nino and Lucia, right?"

You had vowed to forget these two names immediately after witnessing Matteo's violent reaction to them weeks prior - so, naturally, they had burned themselves into your brain.

Even now, you could hear his breathing falter, felt him tense every single muscle under your hands. Since you couldn't see anything, you kept imagining what he'd looked like back then, how murderous his gaze had been... Your mouth went dry. Once again, you couldn't help but wonder if this had really been such a good idea, or if you'd made a mistake in mentioning them, read the room wrong maybe...

But suddenly the tension in his shoulders disappeared again and he gave a simple "Yes" in response.

And you breathed a sigh of relief.

When your ears stopped pounding, you turned your head until his soft curls tickled your chin and asked: "What happened back then?"

"I thought you can put two and two together."

Your mouth opened - and then closed again when you couldn't think of what to say. Instead, you just frowned, a little confused...

At least until you recognized the words as your own and could only roll your eyes. "Oh, ha-ha. Very funny."

"Took you long enough. You sure your head's all right?"

"Maybe you're just not as smart as you think you are. Ever consider that?"

He scoffed. "Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

Again you sat there with your mouth open (The nerve of that guy...!) before you said huffily: "Well, if you can crack jokes, then I guess you're fine and I no longer need to..."

You made as if to break away from the Rabbit, but he immediately tightened his grip around your body and wordlessly pulled you back. It made your heart do a little somersault - and your mouth twist into a triumphant smile.

"Fine", you said and added in a stern voice: "But then you tell me about your two friends."

Silence once more. Until...

"We weren't friends." He cleared his throat, as if his voice had suddenly gone rusty. "We were... colleagues. They were Stalkers, too."

At first it seemed as if he was going to leave it at that, and you already had another question on your lips when he finally continued: "We went to the same school, but were in different age groups - which didn't stop them from always wanting to hang out with us, though." A quiet snort. "It was like they imprinted on us or something. Called themselves our 'biggest fans', talked about how they wanted to be like us when they grew up. Can you imagine? Moe thought it was hilarious of course..."

You could indeed imagine that.

"...to me it was mostly annoying."

Imagining that was even easier. The corner of your mouth twitched upwards, but not for long, because the very next moment the Rabbit turned serious again.

"After graduation we didn't see each other for a long time and I had all but forgotten about them. But then came the Frenzy... Right around the time they were about to graduate themselves." He paused, then went on in a flat voice, as if reciting a report: "Our opponents far outnumbered us, so the higher-ups threw everything we had at them. Active Stalkers of course, inactive ones... And those who were just about to enter into service."

You blinked in disbelief as you realized the meaning of his words. "You mean... they enlisted the students??" You'd never heard of that before, but, well... The reporting at the time left a lot to be desired.

Matteo nodded. "The graduates, yeah. They thought that since the students would soon be working as Stalkers anyway, they were prepared enough. But of course", he let out a short, humorless laugh, "of course, they had not a single goddamn clue what hell was waiting for them out there. We were in an unprecedented war. Something even the most veteran Stalkers had never seen before. But the situation was dire, and they were desperate, and that justified it all in their eyes. Anything. Even sending literal children to the front, without any practical experience, without the slightest fucking idea of what they would have to..."

He broke off and your throat tightened. Almost automatically, your left hand slid over his shoulder and along his back, returning the half hug. Your right hand, however, found its way into his curls and let your fingers run soothingly over his scalp.

"We met again during the siege of the Workshop Tower", Matteo eventually continued. "They tried to put on a brave face, but even a blind man would have seen through that. Fear oozed from their every pore. The same fear that we more experienced Stalkers felt, only they didn't know how to deal with it. With the chaos around them, all the brutality... Their many dead comrades, their classmates. And the realisation that they were nothing but cannon fodder from the start."

Suddenly his shoulders tensed again, a silent justification. "I sent them into the tower. Told them to check our ammunition supply. I had no say in this, let alone the right to give orders, but at that moment I didn't care. Letting them fight on would only have resulted in two more unnecessary deaths, so I was convinced I was doing the right thing. That was, until word reached us that the Puppets had infiltrated the building.

From then on it was pure chaos. Orders were being shouted all over the place, either contradicting each other or being absolute nonsense. Then there was talk of a fire somewhere in the tower, and within seconds everything was filled with smoke. Smoke and panic and death... and those bloody Puppets. They were everywhere all of a sudden, simply overrunning us. As if everything before that had just been a little warm-up for them. At the same time, the chain of command broke down for good, and everyone was basically just trying to save their own skin. But I couldn't just leave, I had to..." He took a deep breath. "I headed for the ammunition depot. I... remember that Moe was trying to stop me, but I wouldn't let him. And then the building collapsed."

In the pause that followed, you noticed that your mouth felt bone dry. As if it was also full of smoke and ash and dust...

"When I woke up, it was pitch black", the Rabbit went on, his voice hoarse. "I couldn't even see my hand in front of my eyes, I was completely disoriented. My leg was pinned under the rubble, so I couldn't move either, no matter how hard I tried. All I could do was sit and wait. And listen to the other people trapped in there with me. Their pained screams and cries for help... Until they fell silent, one by one. And all I could do was wait."

He exhaled loudly and seemed to collect himself before saying: "They told me later that it was only a few hours, but it felt like an eternity before they pulled me out of the rubble. I was badly bruised, had a gash on my head and a concussion, a skewered leg and several broken ribs... But I was alive."

The bitterness in his voice made a lump form in your throat. "So Nino and Lucia, they were...?"

"Yeah", he rasped. "They didn't make it."

"Oh, Matteo... I'm so sorry, that's horrible."

You could feel him shake his head. "There were still occasional small-scale Puppet attacks, so it took several days to recover all the bodies. But I wanted to be there when... I didn't want to look away. It was the least I could do, memorise them so I wouldn't forget. And I didn't, not ever. I take them with me wherever I go, their white, sunken faces... Blood all over. Staring at me, day and night. When I close my eyes and when I open them. I see them when I look back and when I look forward, see them in... in Giulia. In Moe and Vito. Even now I see them, watching us from the dark... Always reminding me, always. Of what needs to be done to atone. To make it right..."

He trailed off and again there was silence between you. Your mind was reeling with all he'd just told you, all this new information that explained so much... Especially what Massimo had meant by "it wasn't pretty" when he had talked about Matteo's past. You would never have thought... It suddenly made you see the Rabbit in a whole new light.

And made you finally say with full conviction: "There's nothing to atone for. It wasn't your fault..."

"Yes, it was."

"But you said it yourself, it was pure chaos! How could you have-"

"We were trained for this. As a Stalker, you should be prepared for anything and always keep a cool head to make the right decisions."

You shook your own. "You're only human. And humans make mistakes, that's our whole thing! You could never have known that the Puppets-"

"Yes", he countered again, vehemently. "Yes, I could have. If only I was more observant. I should have realised that the Puppets were only stalling us, that they were planning something. I should have seen the signs. Should have realised that it was too easy, that... I should never have sent them in there, I should have..." He paused before breathing out: "I should have been the one they pulled out of the rubble days later. Not them."

You felt as if someone had poured a bucket of ice-cold water over you.

A feeling that became even stronger when he continued in a low voice, as though he was talking more to himself than to you: "I always felt like I was living on borrowed time anyway. Doomed to keep going and make the same mistakes, over and over. Pull everyone down with me, time and time again... Like a curse. Like I was cursing them all."

Suddenly, he also wrapped his other arm around you and nuzzled deeper into your shoulder. As if he was afraid you would run. As if you were his anchor, the only thing preventing him from drifting away when he murmured:

"I wish it would just stop."

And broke your heart in two, once and for all.

You didn't know what to say. Your mind was empty except for the echo of his words, each feeling like a knife thrust deep into your gut. Finally, you wrapped your arms around his head and hugged it close, tucking it under your chin. Clinging to him like he did to you, hoping that this would give him some comfort and express at least a fraction of the feelings whirling around inside you.

"Do the others know?", you asked into the quiet darkness.

It took a while before you got a muffled "No" in response.

"Why not?"

"This is not their burden to carry."

"But... maybe they want it to be. Because they care about you and want to help you. Like family does." Your voice softened some more. "Maybe you should leave that decision up to them."

You felt him shake his head again - as much as he could anyway, given your tight embrace. "It's better this way. It's better if they don't-"

"Says who?", you interrupted him, gently but firmly.

"They rely on me", the Rabbit said. "They need me to be strong. To protect them, take care of them."

And who's gonna take care of you...?

"Maybe you should give them a bit more credit. They're strong too, you know. They don't need to be protected all the time, around the clock. And you heard what Moe said; they don't like seeing you like this, working all the time... Walling yourself off and trying to shoulder this all on your own. It hurts them."

"No, you don't get it, I just... I can't tell them. They won't understand, they..."

"I think you'll find that they understand just fine", you said, remembering Massimo's words once again...

"...There's nothing to make up for, you know? You're not to blame for what happened to Nino and Lucia. Even if you keep telling yourself that..."

"And even if they won't... Matteo, they know you. They care about you and want to see you happy. You're family. That isn't going to change just like that."

When he remained silent, you went on: "You know, every time I get lost in 'what ifs'... When I catch myself thinking that searching for my father would have been worth the risk, then... I try to remember all the good things that have happened because I survived and am still here. And every time I find that... it's a lot. A lot of good that wouldn't have happened with me being gone. And it's the same with you." You gave him another squeeze. "It wasn't fate that you survived, and it definitely wasn't a mistake. You didn't take someone else's 'survivor spot' or anything, you could easily have died with everyone else down there. There's no logic to it, you surviving... It was just happenstance - and a very lucky one at that. Nothing more to it. You dying would have been entirely senseless and only led to even more grief. Something Nino and Lucia definitely wouldn't have wanted for their big Stalker idol. No, they would probably freak out if they knew you were still honouring them like this."

You heard a soft snort and couldn't help but smile in return. "Not to mention the other Rabbits: Giulia, Moe, Vito... They would have been devastated, their whole lives turned upside down! You being here matters, Matteo. You matter. To so many people!"

You tried to put as much sincerity as possible into your words, to make him understand what he could not see for himself. To give him what you had often wished for yourself when you had become caught up in similar spirals of thought, unable to-

"That include you?"

Your heart stumbled in your chest. You opened your mouth - and closed it again when your voice failed you. However, it wasn't because you didn't have an answer for him, oh no, quite the opposite; you were rather surprised at how obvious it suddenly was. How simple. For a long time, you had closed your eyes to it and ignored the truth for fear of the consequences. Of what would happen if you acknowledged it. What it would bring about if you admitted to these feelings. Afraid of what it would change, not only around you, but also within yourself...

But suddenly, you found that this fear wasn't as big anymore. Perhaps it was because of the impenetrable darkness around you. Because it felt like a heavy blanket that would keep any secret safe and sound. True to the motto: "What happens in the dark stays in the dark..." Or maybe it was simply because of the man in your arms, this sad and complicated man... The fact that he had poured his heart out to you, a show of trust so unexpected... It had suddenly brought you much closer together (and not just in a physical sense), despite all of your differences. Had made you feel warm and cozy... safe...

Or maybe you were just tired of being afraid. Of dancing around this subject and keeping it quiet out of some confused sense of decency and morality, as if any of that still mattered. Especially now, so close to...

You let your tongue trace over your lips before saying:

"Yes... It does."

As soon as you finished, it was as if the whole world stopped... Until you realized that you had involuntarily held your breath.

And then Matteo shifted positions.

Immediately, fear set in. Fear that this was not the answer he had wanted to hear. That he was suddenly embarrassed by the physical contact and now wanted to distance himself from you...

But instead, he pulled you even closer. Instantly, you were matching his movements and arched into his touch, shuddering as he lifted his head out of your embrace and his lips fleetingly brushed over the exposed skin of your neck. An accident, you were sure, nothing but a-

The thought remained unfinished when you felt his breath dance over your chin and your brain officially shut down.

You hadn't realized before just how close you were. Your faces could only be a hand's width apart - a suspicion that was all but confirmed when the tip of his nose briefly bumped against your own, followed by him pressing his forehead to yours.

All at once, your whole body seemed to be electrified, your closeness so overwhelming that you had to gasp, shaky breath mingling with his in the heavy air between you. Your face was practically glowing by this point, so much so that, for a few heartbeats, you couldn't help but wonder why it was still so dark in the cave. Or why Matteo didn't burn himself when he stroked over your cheek again the next moment, until his fingers moved on, soon resting on the side of your head... before they gently guided you forward.

As soon as you felt his hot breath on your mouth, your heartbeat resembled a veritable drumfire, and you leaned in of your own accord. Drawn to his warmth, his touch, you closed your eyes, until you bridged the last distance and there was a feather-light touch on your lips...

And suddenly heard a loud rumble before glaring daylight fell into the cave.

Your heads immediately whipped around, towards the small hole in the cave wall, which shone as brightly as the sun against the backdrop of the darkness you had become accustomed to. You had to raise your hand to shield your eyes, but still couldn't stop squinting into the light. At least until you heard a faint sound...

A familiar voice grunting with exertion...

In an instant, your eyes widened and you called out: "Vito?! Oh my- Vito, in here! We're in here!!"

Not a second later, a shadow darkened the light as the big Rabbit pressed his mask against the hole to see inside. You laughed with relief and waved at him. It felt as though you had never been happier in your entire life.

As he moved away again and continued working on the rock face, you turned your broad smile back towards Matteo, who you could now see for the first time since the cave-in - and who, at the moment, probably didn't look much better than you did. He was covered in so much dust and dirt, that his dark hair, sticking in sweaty strands to his forehead and the sides of his face, looked almost gray now.

You chuckled and raised a hand to brush a few small stones off his shoulder while saying: "See? I knew we'd make it out of here."

He snorted. "Yeah, right. You knew nothing."

"Nope. I knew it", you insisted with a grin - until your gaze fell on his dirty face. Or, more precisely, on the red cut at his temple, that immediately made you exclaim in alarm: "Wha- You're bleeding!"

You knew that head injuries tended to bleed more, so it probably looked worse and deeper than it actually was. Still, you couldn't help but anxiously run your fingers over the unbroken skin underneath, smudging the thin trail of blood in the process.

"It's fine."

"But...!"

The rest of your objection caught in your throat as Matteo suddenly grabbed your hand and brought it to his mouth to press his lips against your knuckles.

"Don't worry", he mumbled into your skin.

At first, you could only stare at him, mouth slightly agape, before your heart began to race as if wanting to jump out of your chest.

And then, all at once, you realized what had actually happened, and was still happening between the two of you since becoming stuck here. The isolating darkness from before had made the whole situation seem almost dreamlike; had torn you out of your previous roles, leaving you only a man and a woman seeking comfort in each other when all seemed lost.

But now that there was Matteo, a member of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood, sitting in front of you again... very real and unmistakable. Now that you could not only hear and feel him, but also see him - see how close you were, see how he touched you, see how he looked at you... It suddenly sent your mind reeling, especially when you thought about how you'd almost been at each other's throats not so long ago. Especially when you remembered that it hadn't been that long since you'd seen him as nothing more than a rude, arrogant jerk.

A rude, arrogant jerk who was now looking at you as though you had hung the moon in the sky, as he slowly, gently lowered your hand... Closely followed by his gaze, which all but darted down to your mouth after you carelessly chose that exact moment to glide the tip of your tongue over your dry lips. Suddenly, the air between you was as thick as before, almost buzzing with your combined tension and unnamed desires. It filled your cheeks with heat again, especially when it seemed as if the Rabbit was about to lean forward for the second time...

Only to flinch back once more when there was another loud rumbling sound and then a veritable flood of light illuminated the small space inside.

Your gaze wandered from the now quite sizeable hole in the cave wall back to Matteo, where it was met by gray-green eyes - however, only for a moment, before they turned away. For a brief moment, your joy about your rescue turned into an icy sting at the thought that this was it now. That all this had just been a lapse after all, born of the fear of never making it out of here alive. That everything would be the same as before after this, as if the last few minutes had never happened...

But then the Rabbit squeezed your hand, and as the relief came back so did your smile.

The two of you quickly grabbed your gloves and put your masks back on before squeezing through the hole in the cave wall into the open, Matteo letting you go first. The storm had cleared by now, but you paid it no mind. No, instead your attention immediately turned to the big Rabbit, whom you pulled into a giant bear hug the moment you reached him.

"I swear, I've never been happier to see someone!", you cried, voice muffled by his broad chest.

Vito simply chuckled warmly and wrapped his huge arms around you in return.

After a little while, you raised your head and looked up at him. "But... how did you find us?? It's not like..."

You broke off when he suddenly reached into his coat pocket... and presented you with a Cryptic Vessel soon after. No, not a Cryptic Vessel, your Cryptic Vessel. The same one you had found in the shed by the watchtower, before putting it in your jacket where...

It wasn't anymore.

Oops...

You sheepishly pulled your hand from your empty jacket pocket just as Vito pointed first to the item in his hand and then to a spot right next to the collapsed cave. Apparently, it was the Vessel that had put him on your trail.

"Hard to believe that it was your old scatterbrain that saved our arses", Matteo commented.

You had to agree with him. Really the definition of a blessing in disguise... Nevertheless, your face grew warm with embarrassment as Vito handed the Cryptic Vessel back to you and then turned to his brother. After sharing a quick hug as well, the two of them caught up while you let your gaze wander over your former prison. You were surprised that Vito had recognized more in it than just a big pile of stones. It was nothing short of a miracle that you had survived the collapse.

Blessing in disguise and all that...

When you turned back to the two Rabbits, Matteo just said: "What do you mean?"

Vito raised his hand, chortling with amusement as he flicked the right ear of his rabbit mask - which no longer stood up straight like the other one, but had a distinct bend now.

After the three of you had set off again, you bumped into Matteo's shoulder and said with a grin: "Hey, we're matching!" To emphasize your words, you wiggled the droopy left ear of your own mask.

The Rabbit just grumbled something unintelligible.

"What, you don't like it?", you laughed.

"I don't like the comments I'm gonna be subjected to as soon as we get back."

You nodded solemnly. Moe and Giulia would definitely have a field day with that one. Nevertheless, you gave the scarf wearer a mischievous sideways glance before saying: "Sooo you do like it, then."

"I didn't say that."

"Oh, okay, in that case..." You stretched and reached for the ear of his mask... but Matteo suddenly ducked away, leaving you grasping at air. "Wha- What are you doing? I just wanted to fix it!", you laughed again.

"Knowing you, you'll only make it worse."

"No, I won't", you protested, already raising your arm for the second time...

But then the Rabbit quickly grabbed your hand and pulled it down, interlacing your fingers for good measure. "Stop that."

Your eyes involuntarily flitted from your joined hands to Vito; but as the big Rabbit was walking a few steps ahead, he didn't seem to have noticed anything. And so you allowed yourself to smile once more and enjoy the warm, tingling sensation Matteo's touch sent through your body as you walked side by side in comfortable silence. At least until...

"You so like it."

He groaned. "And you're insufferable, you know that."

You could practically hear him rolling his eyes, which made your smile grew even wider. "Well, I learnt from the best~"

***

i always spend ages editing my chapters bc i can't not think,, it can be even better!!! lol. but this one set a new record i think. idk it was very emotional to write and i put a lot of myself into it, so i just wanted it to be the best it can be yk. i hope i succeeded, even if it's just in part, that would already make me very happy:'))

thank you sm for readingg, i hope you enjoyed it!! feedback is welcome and very much appreciated~

[dateko]

˚｡⋆  GLITTER AND GIGGLES | GETO SUGURU

contents: domestic fluff brain rot, papa!geto with the twins, tatted!geto, reader and suguru are married, & suguru being the best dad even though it is written quite poorly

“I’m home!” You announce as you enter the house, feet screaming as you kick off your heels.

Surprisingly, no one greets you back. The absence of the familiar rumble of footsteps that usually storm toward you causes you to frown. There isn’t a pair of mischievous twins that wait for you at the top of the stairs, nor is there a handsome husband dressed in an apron telling you that he’s missed you all day. You deflate at this, but your ears pick up the lovable sound of hushed giggles coming from the living room.

You creep up the steps gingerly, careful not to disrupt whatever fun the girls seem to be having.  And that’s when you see it. There, splayed all over your ridiculously expensive rug that is now littered with markers and glitter glue, is your husband. Your two girls occupy his sides, hovering over his bare back with busy hands.

“Girls?” You break their playful trance, and they turn to each other before you with wide eyes. “What are you two doing?”

Mimiko attempts to gather the markers into her arms as a stuttering Nanako waves her hands in your face, doing a very poor job at obscuring your view when her hands are so incredibly teeny. “Mommy! It’s nothing! We were just cleaning up.”

Your brow raises at this since you know well you didn’t raise a liar. Catching a glimpse of Suguru’s sleeping figure with his bare torso flat on the floor almost makes you think the two tired out their own father to death. But as you step closer, the sight almost makes you laugh out loud.

The tattoo of the rainbow dragon that trails down Suguru’s spine finally bears truth to its name. You’re not exactly sure where to look first. You follow the lines of pink and purple scribbled messily outside the inked lines, the loose glitter that sticks itself between the crevices of your husband’s back muscles, and the series of Sanrio stickers that wander down the side of his neck. It’s ridiculous, almost like a unicorn had vomited all over him, yet precious all at once. 

Mimiko tugs at your sleeve. “Are you mad?”

Shaking your head with a smile, you pinch the little brunette’s cheek. “Hand me a marker.” 

The girls giggle behind you as you kneel beside Suguru’s sleeping face. He’s gorgeous, always been, and always will be. Thought it was a shame you were about to ruin it. The marker in your hold draws an elaborate beard on his face, making sure to dance with a few swirls and twirls. You beam at how your canvas scrunches his nose, eyebrows furrowing at the feeling of your marker gliding across his skin.

Suguru scratches his face before opening his eyes, blinking repeatedly at the moment he realizes you’re home. “Morning, beautiful.” You grin, tucking a piece of his dark locks behind his ear.

“Sweetheart,” He sits up immediately, unaware of the glitter that falls from his skin behind him. “I missed you.”

You decide against scolding your husband for falling asleep instead of watching your children when he leans in to seal a kiss on your lips, and you turn away, stifling a giggle. “Come on, no kiss?” Suguru pouts. “What’s so funny?”

“Papa, you look so weird.” Mimiko pips from behind you, trying to hide her laughter.

“You have something on your face, Papa!” Nanako adds, squealing when Suguru grabs her to tickle her stomach. The house is filled with an abundance of happy laughter once more, and you can feel your heart swell with contentment. Your husband extends his arm to you and Mimiko, a soft glint in his golden eyes. The expression on his face is delicate, yet he is still completely unaware of the ridiculous lines that paint his features. “Come over here, you two.” 

Suguru beams as his three favorite girls pile on top of him, bubbles of joy bouncing off the walls every which way. You can’t help but finally kiss him. You could never resist Suguru, especially when he’s always been such a good husband and an exceptional father for the three of you. The wet smack you place on his lips causes the girls to grimace, trying to wiggle their way out of strong arms.

The twins scramble out of the living room and scurry off immediately. You stay in Suguru’s lap, hand tracing his collarbone and down his shoulders as he hugs you tighter. “Don’t think I’m letting you go without a punishment.” He teases, pressing his lips to your temple.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?" 

“Oh yeah?” His eyebrow raises, unconvinced. “Well, I wouldn't be so sure. You look like Yaga right now.” 

Your hands scramble to your chin as you gasp, noticing the black residue on your fingertips. Your husband watches you as you attempt to scrub off the black beard on your face with your sleeve. Rolling your eyes at his smirk, you give up. Grabbing both sides of his face, you kiss him once more. “Oh, shut up and kiss me.”

“Anything for you, Sweetheart.”

[accidentcache]

being close friends with aizawa and he has to watch you slowly (ish) fall for hawks. first it was just admiring him and thinking he's cool (which aizawa can begrudgingly respect because hawks is a top hero for a reason). he invites you as a plus one to a hero event where you meet hawks. then it turns into him noticing the heart eyes you get when you see hawks. you tell him you developed a crush on hawks and he acts surprised (it's painfully obvious, kill him). he doesn't try to stop you from feeling that way, but tries to warn you abt heroes and their schedules - esp a top hero.

then it gets worse. yes, he has an "unreasonable beef" (aa mic put it) with hawks and, yes, he was able to out it aside for your sake. now, though? he's noticing mannerisms and details about hawks he wishes he didn't know because you gush about him so much. aizawa isn't going to stop you from talking about hawks, but it pisses him off to know that hawks fidgets with the fingertips of his gloves, more than likely wanting to take them off, after using his feathers as blades.

it all comes to a head when aizawa - for some goddamn reason - is paired with hawks for something (idk hero student teaining ig?). he mentions a small detail that you noticed about hawks and had told him about. hawks jokes that aizawa is more observant than he leads on, and aizawa is like "oh, no. yn pointed it out and told me about it."

hawks gets all flustered and aizawa realizes he is going to have to deal with two pining idiots, so he sends you a text like, "you should ask hawks out." before putting you, him, and hawks in a groupchat. he lays out your best time for a date and what you like and sends a message like, "take initiative" and then leaves the groupchat.

yes, hawks was kicking his feet all happy like a schoolgirl while texting you.

aizawa thinks he's safe from the "omg did i tell you THIS happened?" talks, but nope. it's doubled. spare him.

i let this sit for long enough it's time for others to giggle about this